September / October Volume 12, Number 5 $3.00
Gregorio Francis: a Dream Realized
Thomas McClary, “Mr. Brickhouse” The Legendary Melba Moore Willie Gary: Giving from the Heart ...and much more Support our supporters: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Florida Power and Light
TABLE OF CONTENTS
September / October
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Cover Story
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...As a lead partner with one of the largest and most successful plaintiff's law firm in the United States, Gregorio Francis, left, is nationally known as a champion for the people.
Volume 12, Number 5
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The Rebellious Journey
READ MORE...
By Lucia Reid
By Rhetta Peoples
ONYX PROFILES: Melba Moore, Thomas McClary, James Weldon Johnson
elba d a r y M th e n e g e L The ct in er impa h d n a Moore music s f i Moria world o By Sand
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: McClary e s a m o h T n d th k h ou s e a ic r B . r “M ores” C om m od
DEPARTMENTS
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Delicia Stewart: Empowers Consumers
34 Willie Gary: Giving from the Heart
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12 Health and Fitness: Rejuvenating Your Health 13 Hair Tips 14 Eating Healthy: Your Health and Taste Quota––Power Salads 16 Movies 10 Finances: How to Nail that Job Interview 24 Florida Scope 37 Photo Gallery: Onyx Speaks, Onyx Mixer, Publishers’ Luncheon, Awards
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September / October 2009
In this issue, we recognize two attorneys –– beginning with our cover story, the first African American partner of Morgan and Morgan, P.A., Attorney Gregorio Francis. Francis has an interesting story that is meant to inspire young people that have doubts about pursuing their career goals. (Page 22) Remember the “Giant Killer”? Well, this person does much more than kill giants. You see, Attorney Willie Gary is also a humanitarian who gives back to the community. We are privileged to take this opportunity to talk about his giving. (Page 34)
pages of the magazine.
...Did you miss the Kentucky Derby? Not to worry, Denise Mose takes us there. Read about the neat people who meet up at this exciting event. (Page 8)
See how Delicia Stewart wants to empower consumers as she addresses one of our key issues––energy. She has a lot to say. (Page 18)
“Health Notes” and “Eating Healthy” are integral parts of Onyx Magazine. This section is designed to offer tips and suggestions; however, we do not advocate or suggest anything to take the place visits to your doctor.
The seventh annual Onyx Awards was held on March 14, 2009. It was a grand occasion attended by 800 people. To our guests, we thank you for your attendance. We look forward to your attendance again next year at the 2010 Onyx Awards, which will be held on March 20th. 6
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The Onyx Awards celebrates persons in the state of Florida who have been outstanding in their achievement and have gone beyond the call of duty in giving back to their respective communities. This year we celebrated 22 honorees in five competitive categories, and seven in non-competitive categories. We also honored the presidents of all of the Florida Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
We are excited about the Thomas McClary story. As you know, he is the organizer of the Commodores. (page 30)
We have a huge photo gallery highlighting the Onyx Awards and the events leading up to it on the last few
Speaking of the Onyx Awards, LBS Foundation Incorporated also hosts the Onyx Community in various locations of the state. Our next show will be on the Space Coast, November 7, 2009.
Having shows in various parts of the state is a way of making sure that all parts of the state is represented during the statewide Onyx Awards.
Many thanks to contributing writers, Pastor Randolph Bracy, Sandi Morias, Denise Mose, Joy Gendusa, Teri Haux, Rhetta Peoples and Lucia Reid. Thanks for choosing Onyx Magazine, we’ll see you again in September. With warm regards,
Lillian & Lester Seays
September / October 2009
Publisher and Managing Editor Lillian Seays
Associate Editor / Operations Manager Lester Seays Director of Information Technology Brian Seays Director of Special Projects Cheryll Daniels
Executive Director of Marketing and Sales George Oliver Northeast Florida Sales David Williams Circulation Manager Kenneth Seays
Contributing Writers The Reverend Dr. Randolph Bracy, Jr. Joy Gendusa Teri Haux Sandi Morias Rhetta Peoples Lucia Reid Photographers Ted Hollins Mike Lester Seays
Onyx Magazine is published bimonthly by LBS Publications, Inc., P. O. Box 555059, Orlando, FL 32855. Phone (407) 293-6102 or (407) 443-6237. Subscription $15 for six issues, and can be purchased online: www.onyxmagazine.com. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Copyright 2009 by LBS Publications. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writer or interviewee, and not necessarily those of the editor. Manuscripts, photos and art should be submitted with a self addressed stamped envelope.
DISCLAIMER: The editor does not assume responsibility for any materials not submitted in manner advised. Please go to the website for addition information regarding contributing writers. Unsolicited materials are not subject to payment from Onyx magazine.
September / October 2009
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Hats, History and Horses .. . The Kentucky Derby It’s official.
By: Dr. Denise Y. Mose
I will never miss another Kentucky Derby in my life. It is my opinion that everyone on this planet should visit this once a year event. I have said it once and I’ll say it again. There is NOTHING quite like the Kentucky Derby! Because I have a tendency to score cool press passes; my talk show sent me to the 135th Running of the Kentucky Derby 2009. It pays to be persistent!
Honestly, I am not a big horse fan. Like most of the world, I get excited about the derby when it rolls around every year in May. But this year was a bit different. Since this was my second trip to Churchill Downs, I kind of knew what to expect. As I entered the stadium, I placed my bet, ordered a mint julep and watched the beautiful parade of hats go by. I sat in awe talking to one lady who had her hat made in China and paid six figures for it! Yeap, that’s the derby for you! Last year, we watched the race from the press area on the padlock. This year we were seated and I was two boxes away from NBA Superstar and Olympic Gold Medallist Michael Jordan. I decided not to speak, after all his bodyguards looked extremely intimidating. Now, you may be asking yourself the following question. “Dr. Mose, isn’t it only a two-minute race“? My answer of course is a resounding, “Yes”. Trust me, it’s a two minutes you need to see, experience and feel!
What happened next was completely out of left-field! In the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history, Mine That Bird, a 50-1 shot ridden by Calvin Borel, ran away with the title at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2009. There were several favorites to win, but not this horse! By 6:30 p.m., when Mine That Bird easily rode through a hole in the rail and skipped from the muddy track into the lane all alone, the crowd of 153,563 at Churchill Downs checked their programs to see who the heck the No. 8 horse was. I mean it was just 2 minutes 2.66 seconds. The fastest two minutes in sports every year! 8
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After the race, I threw on my party dress ready to hit the Red Carpet. I had to remind myself, that I was here to work. My amazing agent Monique provided me with a killer fudge colored dress. Courtesy of GUCCI! Surely, I would get noticed in my haute couture runway attire. Furthermore, Mrs. Seays wanted a great story, and no one lets Lillian B. Seays down! The Gault House in downtown Louisville was the backdrop for a sea of celebrities to dish on their day at the derby. I was ready and so was my crew. They consist of: Sequoia, Elvis (yes, that‘s his real name), Darrin, and Meech. They are the best. When I travel, my guys are right there with me.
TV Personality Star Jones, Joy Bryant, Jawn Murray, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and Multi-Platinum Hip Hop Legend RUN of Run DMC, Famous Hip Hop DJ to Salt-N-Pepa Spinderella, Actresses Gabrielle Union, Tichinia Arnold, Lynn Whitfield, America’s Next Top Model Winner Eva Marcielle, Fitness Expert Donna Richardson Joyner, Radio Legend Tom Joyner, Blockbuster Actor Tyrese Gibson and Tyler Perry’s Lance Gross, Singer “Q” of R&B Group 112, and NFL stars Warrick Dunn, Wil Demps, Kurt Morrison all stopped by for an interview with me.
Denise Mose & Gabriel Union
Denise with Donna Richarson
I must say, when I met RUN of RunDMC I was done for the night. Run-DMC? That is my generation when real hip-hop started. Let me stop, I’m aging myself here!
Oh, I almost forgot. The legendary Teena Marie was the headliner! After hearing I Need Your Lovin’, Lovergirl, and two encore’s of Square Biz, my derby night was sealed in history!
We headed back to the hotel and I already had my laptop on the bed. I was downloading my pictures to email them back to Mrs. Seays and my best friends in Orlando.
Well, here is another fabulous story about my many adventures abroad in the lives of some very famous people. The Taste of Chicago will be my next event to cover. About four million people travel to Chicago every Fourth of July for this major food fest! My talk show will be interviewing American Idol Winner Fantasia and Multi-Grammy winning artist Kirk Franklin. Think I’ll stop by to see if Oprah will take me shopping!
Denise with Ron-DMC, of the Legendary Group, Ron-DMC
Denise Mose with Lance Gross, of House of Paine and Eva Marcille winner of America’s next top model
September / October 2009
How To Nail That Job Interview With Fierce Competition for Jobs, Expert Recommends Research, Finesse By...
Unless you’ve been living under a rock in an underground cave off the shore of Nova Scotia, you already know that the odds of getting a new job without putting in some serious effort these days are slim to none. And slim just left the building.
So, if you’re one of the fortunate ones to score a job interview – whether you’ve already been laid off or you’re simply afraid your company will be downsizing soon – you need to take every step necessary to nail it. That’s why Joy Gendusa, entrepreneur CEO of marketing company PostcardMania – and author of the marketing advice column Ask Joy Gendusa (http://www.postcardmania.com/askjoyblog/) – has applied her savvy to the topic of “The Big Interview.” As the CEO of an Inc. 500 company in the client service business, Gendusa knows how to land the big contract, and she has also interviewed hundreds of employees for her company. She knows how to interview, and be interviewed successfully.
“Getting a new job is a lot like courting,” she said. “Smart and funny work just as well in the office as they do with friends. It’s a game of charm and disarm, using good humor to deflect objections and intelligence to demonstrate that you can handle anything they throw at you.”
Gendusa has assembled a list of qualities that are designed to help you score big when you’re in the new job hot seat:
• The Basics – These are lowest common denominator elements of the interview that so many people still find a way to botch. Be on time, meaning five to ten minutes early. Be prepared with extra copies of your resume, a notebook, examples of your past work and a list of references if they re10
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Joy Gendusa
quest it. If any of these elements are absent from your interview experience, you’re already starting the race a lap behind.
• The Look – The old adage “Don’t dress for the job you have, but for the job you want,” still rings true. If it’s been a while since you’ve worn the business suit, or your current ones don’t fit because you’ve either lost or gained weight, it might be time to invest in the new suit. No matter your body type, clothes that fit well always make you look more professional and capable. In business, we know that you have to spend a little money to make a little money, and that’s the case with your own career as well.
• The Smarts – When human resources managers consider you for a position, they research you. They not only read your resume, but they may also Google your name, do a background check or call former employers. So, why not return the favor? Research the company, Google them, look at current news items and press releases about them. When you walk in the door, you should know more about them than they know about you. That way, when they ask you relevant questions as a potential employee, you can answer them as if you were a current employee.
• The Confidence – There is a fine line between confident and cocky, and it’s a different line for everyone. Find yours before you interview. Also, avoid getting caught up in your own anxiety over the interview. A confident applicant sits in the waiting room and calmly reads a magazine while waiting. The nervous person sits there, rifling through dog-eared copies of their resume and anxiously bouncing their knee up and down. Take a breath before you walk in, relax and remember that the best way to get hired is to show them that you can relax
under pressure.
• The Finesse – Sometimes the most important part of the interview comes after the interview. If you’ve done well in the interview, it’s still possible to spoil your chances by being either unresponsive or too eager. The follow up is a finesse play. After each interview, always write a polite “thank you” email to the human resources director. If they provide instructions for follow-up at the end of the interview, follow them precisely. If they say, “Give us a call Monday to see where we are,” that doesn’t mean to call Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
• The Honesty – Simply put, don’t lie. Also, before taking a job, make sure you are willing to give it your all and really be a team player. Don’t take a job that you know you are going to leave soon. This will not help you in the future.
Exhibiting these qualities will put you in the top 2 percent of job applicants, and ensure that your job search is a short and fruitful journey.
About Joy Gendusa Joy Gendusa (http://www.postcardmania.com/askjoyblog/) founded PostcardMania in 1998, her only assets a computer and a phone. By 2005 the company did over $12 million in sales, employed over 100 people and made Inc. Magazine’s prestigious Inc 500 List as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the nation. She attributes her explosive growth to her ability to choose incredible staff and her innate marketing savvy.
September / October 2009
Florida’s Energy Future
Increased consumer demand for electricity, coupled with high fuel costs and the rising cost of compliance with new environmental laws, are causing electric bills to rise dramatically. Currently, African American families pay a higher percentage of our income on electric power than any other group, and electric power is becoming less affordable every day.
“Despite the obstacles that face electric consumers, the outlook is brightest in the sunny state of Florida,” said Public Service Commissioner Katrina J. McMurrian in a recent interview.
“Our leaders were among the first to step up with legislation to meaningfully encourage nuclear investment in the state. Governor Charlie Crist, the Legislature, and local government officials each are acting in the interest of the people of the state of Florida by advancing the cause of clean energy. Properly implemented nuclear energy can be an important part of a real sustainable long-term solution to Florida’s energy problems. We are fortunate that our leaders had the vision and fortitude to put Florida on the right energy track.”
From the start of his tenure as the governor of Florida, Charlie Crist has been behind the efforts to expand nuclear energy production. In support of the 2006 landmark energy bill that required the PSC to establish rules allowing utilities to recover certain costs of new nuclear investment in advance of operation, Crist signed legislation in 2008 calling for the expansion of the rules to allow similar advanced recovery for nuclear-related transmission projects. These policies spurred investment as intended, and in 2008, the PSC determined that four proposed additional reactors, Florida Power & Light’s Turkey Point Units 6 & 7 and more recently Progress Energy Florida’s Levy Units 1 & 2, were needed and were the most cost-effective options to reliably serve consumers.
Florida economists state that the benefits of these plants are staggering : Turkey Point 6 & 7 alone are expected to save consumers approximately $93 billion in fuel costs and emit no greenhouse gases, avoiding 295 million tons of CO2 emissions over the first 40 years of operation. That is equivalent to taking approximately 1.32 million cars off the road every year. According to Florida economic experts, nuclear offers greater energy independence for September / October 2009
Floridians, protecting our economy and environment from being too reliant on any single source of fuel and over time, will lead to lower electric rates for consumers. Floridians from across the state are applauding the Crist administration for removing the roadblocks that typically hinder growth in the nuclear sector.
For African Americans not only will the new nuclear plants bring long-term lower electric rates, they will also bring new jobs. Building the new plants will create over 4,000 new jobs during the construction phase and approximately 800 permanent, high paying jobs once the proposed plants are completed. The additional reactors will also average $100 million in annual tax revenue for schools and other local services.
There is clearly momentum behind the clean nuclear energy movement as people start to recognize the compelling arguments for its expanded use: It’s inexpensive, safe and reliable. Inexpensive because the technology is readily available and doesn’t have to be developed first and because nuclear fuel has been historically much less expensive than other fuels, which of course translates to money saved for both the utilities and the consumers. Nuclear is the only baseload energy source capable of consistently generating large amounts of electricity on a large scale with relatively no carbon emissions – safe & reliable.
When asked about fuel source diversity Commissioner McMurrian stated, “The need for a diverse mix of cleaner fuels and renewable resources has never been greater. While solutions such as wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal jockey for prominence and importance in the quest for a solution, nuclear energy holds the key.”
McMurrian stated that she agrees wholeheartedly with Governor Charlie Crist, who has said, “Nuclear energy is a vital part of Florida’s energy future, as it is cost-effective, clean and can meet largescale needs.”
“It’s Governor Crist’s bold leadership in this arena that is helping to change the tide of discussion concerning the merits of nuclear and allowing the state of Florida and its residents to reap the environmental and economic benefits. Other state and national leaders should look to Florida as a successful working model,” McMurrian concluded.
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ias r By o M i d n Sa
“Wake Up! All Power to the People” is a profound poem written by internationally renowned holistic health expert, author and health activist Queen Afua. Over the past thirty years, she has been on a health crusade trying to teach African-Americans how to rejuvenate their health with natural living. Queen Afua knows first hand what it feels like to live with health problems. She was a victim of a destructive lifestyle. She consumed junk foods, over cooked and processed foods that put her on the road to an unhealthy life. At the age of seventeen she suffered chronic asthma and allergies. Some doctors told her that there was no cure for her. However, one summer she was invited to a health retreat by a friend where she met an African-American man who was a master herbalist for over fifty years. His name is Dr. John Moore. He helped her to change her unhealthy eating habits to a more natural way of eating. Over a period of time, after she made the transition she noticed an improvement in her health. As a result of her healing experience, she decided to study more about natural living. For the next twenty years, Queen Afua studied all aspects of holistic health.
In 1991 at the age of thirty-seven, she published her first book titled “Heal Thyself for Health and Longevity”, which contained information about her journey to health through detoxification, live foods, meditation and prayer. Later on, she published her second book, “Sacred Woman”, a guide to healing the feminine body, mind, and spirit. Her deep desire and concern to help AfricanAmericans restore their health inspired her to establish the Queen Afua’s Institute of Wellness in Brooklyn, New York. The center caters to holistic healing. Thousands of people that have attended the center over the years were able to reclaim their health through her natural living program. Stevie Wonder, Ben Vereen and Erykah Badu were some of the celebrities that benefited from her program.
Queen Afua believes that it is time for African-Americans to wake up and take responsibility for their health. Obesity in adults has increased by 60% within the 12
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past twenty years, and obesity in children has tripled in the past thirty years according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Being overweight can lead to major health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. African-Americans are the leading victims of all these diseases because of their unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. Making lifestyle changes to eat healthier and exercise can help to reduce the risk of many of these diseases.
Over the years Queen Afua has traveled throughout the United States speaking to different organizations about the importance of natural living. In 2008, she published her third book titled “The City of Wellness, Restoring Your Health Through the Seven Kitchens of Consciousness”. In the book, she gives tips on how to prepare healthy vegetarian meals and recipes for juicing. She also gives tips on exercise and meditation. I read “The City of Wellness” and the book is a plethora of wisdom and knowledge that I believe needs to be disseminated throughout the world.
During my interview with Queen Afua, she was very enthusiastic about sharing with me the wonderful news that finally after three decades of promoting her natural living program it was tested by a medical doctor. Dr. Bernadette Sherridon, along with a team of nurses, tested twenty-one clients with various health problems for a period of twelve weeks. At the end of the session, some of the clients were able to overcome their obesity, others came off their diabetic and blood pressure medication, and also their asthmatic medication. Queen Afua believes that even though more people are becoming aware of the health benefits of natural living, we still have a long way to go. However, she is very optimistic that with education and awareness, African-Americans will become more enlightened and wake up, one person at a time.
As a fitness instructor and health enthusiast, I commend Queen Afua for the magnificent work that she is doing to spread the message on the health benefits of natural living. I have been using her rejuvenating clay for over two years and have had tremendous health benefits from the product. The great Mahatma Ghandi once said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Queen Afua truly exemplifies Ghandi’s statement, as she continues to take her message on natural living to the world. For more information visit: www.queenafua.com Or call 718-221-4325 Wake Up! All Power to the People
Our wounded hearts chain us to fatal foods that clog our arteries Rob us of our oxygen and steal away our life force
High sugar intake brings high stress early aging, and premature death This sugar robs us of the sweetness of love and life and wellness
(Excerpt from The City of Wellness by Queen Afua)
September / October 2009
Cathy’s Hair Tips
I have been trying to go natural since about August or September of 2008. Should I continue to stay natural or go back to a relaxer?
Cathy Howse
I would NEVER advise you to get a relaxer as they will make you bald if they are not properly applied. I will never put relaxer on my head ever again. If you decide to relax your hair again that is a personal decision you will have to make. My problem with going natural is that now summer is here and I am working out. My natural hair reverts back to a kinky state, and styling is a problem. Since my transition, I have seen a great amount of breakage in the back of my head. I am not sure if it is from the way I sleep, do I need a protein treatment or from combing it while wet or a combination of all three.
If your hair is breaking I would start with a protein treatment. Next look at the way you are treating your hair. Severely tugging and pulling on afro-textured hair will cause breakage. Also if you are washing and deep conditioning your hair less than one time per week, that could also be your problem.
I have been in this country for six years now and I want to find a product or hairdresser I can believe in. I had long shoulder length hair six years ago and now, I have been gradually reduced to wearing ponytails because my hair has shortened and thinned. I have gone to hairdresser after hairdresser hoping to see a difference but no results. At first I thought that if they charge more then they must be doing something right, but I was proven wrong. I am at a point now where I would rather wear a wig so I do not have to worry about what to do with my hair. I am only 25. I wear ponytails immediately after perming my hair, because it is so thin and short. I can't style it. No product from the black hair stores seems to work. I do not know what to do!!! Please help me get my hair long and full again! I need help!
The first thing you need to do is STOP relaxing your hair. Your hair is thinning because a chemical the equivalent of "liquid drain cleaner" is being pushed into your head over and over again. This causes the hair to thin and will eventually make you baldheaded! Hairdressers are one of the reason we don't have hair. They are taught in beauty school to put their gloves on and smooth the chemical with their hands, fingers and comb against the other hair. This goes into the pores and changes the hair cell DNA. Please read my books before you do another thing to your hair. You must first understand why you have this problem before you can correct it. I realized that relaxers were a big problem for black women and thinning hair over 10 years ago. Education is the key to keeping our hair. Most hairdressers do not know this information and do not care because if you have no hair its money in their pocket. They make more money selling weave. Educate yourself to keep your hair!
Cathy Howse is a Black hair care expert and the founder of Ultra Black Hair Products/UBH Publications Inc., a 20-year old company that teaches the truth about Black hair care and growth. Her book, Ultra Black Hair Growth II, is classified as the only proven black hair growth system in the world. Notoriety for her method has been included in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of American Women, and Who’s Who in the World. Visit her website at www.ultrablackhair.com or send your hair care questions to her via email at mail@ubhpublications.com.
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aux H i r e T By
PTEM ES SE R T A THE ING IN OPEN
A reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film, Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, a diverse, creative powerhouse where students from all walks of life are given a chance to live out their dreams and achieve real and lasting fame...the kind that comes only from talent, dedication, and hard work.
In an incredibly competitive atmosphere, plagued by self-doubt, each student’s passion will be put to the test. In addition to their artistic goals, they have to deal with everything else that goes along with high school, a tumultuous time full of
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clude Debbie Allen as Principal Simms, Charles S. Dutton as Alvin Dowd, Kelsey Grammer as Joel Cranston, Megan Mullally as Fran Rowan, and Bebe Neuwirth as Lynn Kraft.
Naturi Naughton as Denise schoolwork, deep friendships, budding romance, and self-discovery. As each student strives for his or her moment in the spotlight, they’ll discover who among them has the innate talent and necessary discipline to succeed. With the love and support of their friends and fellow artists, they’ll find out who amongst them will achieve Fame…
The cast includes Asher Book as Marco, Kristy Flores as Rosie, Paul Iacono as Neil, Paul McGill as Kevin, Naturi Naughton as Denise, Kay Panabaker as Jenny, Kherington Payne as Alice, Collins Pennie as Malik, Walter Perez as Victor, and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as Joy. Their instructors in-
Since the days of the first movie serials and double features that would open with a Bugs Bunny cartoon, the movies have been a part of Americana.
We can’t get enough of movie stars, the Internet is loaded with trailers and movie news, and every weekend, millions of Americans take that time-honored stroll through those velvet ropes – down the aisle that’s lit from the floor – to a plush seat looking up to that giant silver screen.
But one expert, a mother AND screenwriter, believes
September / October 2009
Hollywood Destroys Traditional Values: Expert Offers Tips For Families Looking for Cinema That Matches Their Morals
that as the movies reflect more of the violence, sexuality, drug use and corruptive influences found in our society, they are ceasing to be an experience that families can enjoy together.
“I grew up loving the movies, so much so, that I wanted to write them,” said Teri Haux, author of Movie Viewer Extraordinaire: Discerning the Influences of Movies on Your Freedom, Family and Happiness, from Booksurge (www.movieviewerextra.com). “When I had children, one of the first things I wanted to pass on to them was an appreciation of the movies, but I discovered that there were precious few movies in the firmament that were appropriate for a family audience. I realized that I was going to have to do some research to figure out how to give my kids the movie bug without exposing them to stories that ran contrary to my family’s values.” Haux found her answers, and offers them as tips for parents also looking for ways to allow their families to enjoy cinema that is consistent with their family’s values:
• Choose the morals and standards you want to live by – Examine the ideas and concepts that are important to you, and that you want to pass on to your children. Before you understand what you don’t want in a movie, you really need to come to terms with the things that you DO want. Make your choices your standards, and use them as the guidelines to navigate your family’s movie wish list.
• Regulate ALL media that you and your family experience – For all the people who want to ban certain films and television shows, the truth is that it is far easier to simply choose and guide what your own family watches. Movies that feature more sex or violence than we would like will always be around. We simply don’t have to watch them – the natural extension of that is being a vigilant parent who knows not only what your kids are doing, but also what they are watching. • Reinforce positive influences and min-
imize the negative – Short of editing the movies yourselves, you likely won’t eliminate all vestiges of the negative elements of modern movies. Talk to your kids about some of the things that they see, and ensure they understand the context of the actions. Silence in the presence of harmful examples in an implied endorsement.
• Trust your feelings – Movies more than entertain. They touch our emotions, so if we are previewing a movie, and it feels wrong (or right), chances are it is. These are individual choices, and we need to trust our guts sometimes.
• Use movies to complement dreams, interests and talents – Since we already know that children emulate what they see on film and television, why not expose them to a diet of movies that actually inspires them and speaks to interests and talents they may already exhibit. One of the most valuable things movies do for us is that they take us to new places and show us things we might never see on our own, allowing us to live our dreams vicariously through the cinematic experience. When we choose movies that connect to our aspirations, the potential for inspiration is limitless.
“If you follow these tips, and work to match your values with the vast history of cinema modern technology allows us to access, you can teach your family how to become extraordinary movie viewers,” Haux said. Teri Haux has been a screenwriter for nearly a decade. Her scripts have been optioned for production and she has placed as a finalist in the Scriptapalooza and the Bluecat Screenwriting screenplay competitions. Teri home schools her children (3) and supports her husband, a career Army officer who just returned stateside.
THE ORLANDO GARDEN CLUB 710 East Rollins Orlando, FL 7:00 P.M. - Midnight
James E. Clyburn, Majority Whip, and Delicia Stewart
FEDERAL ENERGY BILL WILL NOT SAVE THE PLANET, BUT MAY KILL THE PEOPLE
Daughter of Delano Stewart, and Dr. E. Jean Stewart a famed attorney and educator in Florida’s African-American community, Delicia Stewart learned a lot from her parents growing up. Watching her father dedicate his life to eradicating segregation in Hillsborough County and becoming one of the first black attorneys to work in government in the Tampa area, Delicia realized that one person could make a difference. “My father always helped our neighbor growing up, bought her kids clothes for 18
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school, took them dinner on Christmas,” said Delicia Stewart. “One year I asked him why he was always helping them and he said something that I will never forget.”
“He asked me to put my hand on the fence that separated our yard from theirs and to let him know how wide it was. I told him it was about six inches. He replied that was about six inches from where I may have been and asked had I been on the other side of that fence, what I would want his relationship to be. That changed my life.”
Today, Stewart has taken that life experience and used it to follow in the path her father laid before her; helping people on fixed incomes and working families throughout the nation during these historically tough times. Serving as the National Spokesperson for Grassroots Outreach for EmPower Consumers, a coalition representing thousands of people from all regions of the country whose voices have gone unheard, Stewart
September / October 2009
is currently leading an EmPower march across the country.
“I am traveling coast to coast, community to community; where there is a story to be told or a voice to be heard you will find me,” stated Stewart. “We must guard against proposed new laws that are purportedly designed to help the environment but which will increase electric bills so much that working people will not be able to make ends meet”.
Someone must stand up and not be afraid of telling the truth, said Mrs. Stewart. She continued “The truth is the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), drafted by Chairman Henry A. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee will shackle minorities living in the southeast and the midwest with the highest electric rate increases in history. We must not allow this to occur. Mrs. Stewart has taken her case to the nation’s capital where she has shared her beliefs with members of the U.S. Congress. “The task set before us isn’t an easy one, but is a necessary one,” said Stewart. “Minority families can not afford the continuing increase of energy costs and we need to join together and let our plight be known.”
In 2008, African-American households with annual pre-tax incomes below $50,000 spent roughly one quarter of their after-tax income on energy and consumer advocates predict the Waxman bill will lead to “sub-
will surely kill American families”. “We support Congress, but we ask that in return Congress support us,” explained Stewart. “We ask Congress to take into account the low and middle-class communities who can not afford rate hikes in energy and who will feel the greatest impact of any group in the nation.”
Mrs Stewart continued “We must all demand that Congress provide consumers with a thorough cost analysis of the legislation, which includes comprehensive energy models. We must require Congress make the cost impacts of the legislation transparent to consumers so that we are informed as to how much these mandates will cost us. Additionally, we must implore Congress to abandon expensive mandates, like an RES mandate, and let trading programs work. The record of government energy mandates providing relief to consumers is not a good one and only raises prices for consumers. Finally, we must ensure that Congress does not burden the people living in the Southeast and Midwest with the costs of climate change mandates.”
EmPower Consumers was created to focus public policy makers, regulators and industry on the financial impact and affordability element of the energy equation and its effect on the working middle class and economically disadvantaged consumers balanced against environmental impacts, availability and safety at each point along the path; minimizing financial hardships that arise as public policy makers and providers of electric power address energy policy issues intended to transition us to a
...said Stewart. “Minority families can not afford the continuing increase of energy costs and we need to join together and let our plight be known.” stantial” price increases to consumers. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by about 5 millions. The unemployment rate of African-Americans, now at 13.4%, has risen to nearly twice that of any other racial/ethnic group. Mrs. Stewart stated the “Waxman bill will not save the planet but it September / October 2009
greener environment. To join EmPower Consumers or find more information please visit www.EmPowerConsumers.org.
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Rhetta Peoples:
The Rebellious Journey Commentary Anyone who has seriously considered religion has questioned religion. For years, I was hesitant to ask hardball questions about Christianity. When I did get up the nerve to ask specific questions like, “how do we really know God is real”, I was told to just have faith and believe that it was true. Not only did I get the “just have faith” answer, but I also got attitude from a lot of Christians because I asked. Those types of answers caused me to shy away from Christianity when I was in my teens and even during most of my twenties.
Nonetheless, I became a little more interested in religion and began to ask even bolder questions. Questions like, “Did God really part the Red Sea or was it a metaphor for making a way out of what was considered to be no way?” Or, why “would our God send us to hell if he really loves us?” Better yet, “How can a virgin give birth?” Or the one question that baffled me for years, “With so many other religions out there, why is Christianity ‘the gospel?’” I also wanted to know how the hype around Rhonda Byrne’s bestselling book, “The Secret” could really advise us to use positive thinking to solve just about all of our problems. “The Secret” is not even a religion but many people swear by it. If “The Secret” can solve our problems, why do we need a religion to complicate things and make us feel guilty when we do something wrong?
You can probably tell by now that I was not always a Christian. I, quite frankly, don’t know what I was, but I didn’t always believe in God, nor did I always believe that he had a son that came here, died on a cross and rose again 3 days later. At that point in my life I believed religion was started and developed over time, by man, to get the vast population to adhere to good social behavior and to help us cope with life. I had personally confirmed that religion was something that was built from a savvy political strategy. This strategy helps to keep 20
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Ok, if you’re a Christian, I can bet I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably saying, that I’m giving people things to think about that a Christian should not. I say that if there are questions that a Christian wants to ask, they should ask. I have learned that the God I serve has nothing to hide. He actually encourages us to ask him hardball questions. Trust me, he’s got the answer. And if he has not revealed it to you yet, it does not mean that he won’t.
The top five major religions in the world are Christianity, Islam, es Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. eopl P Christians believe that God is in a tt Rhe three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christians also people that need to be governed, governed. believe that God sent his son to earth to deThis is necessary because even the governliver us from sin and after Christ was killed ment cannot completely govern us all. on the cross God brought him from the dead Right? So why wouldn’t some savvy secret three days later. organization come up with something that dictates to its people how we should act? The word Islam means “submission” or That makes complete sense! It actually the total surrender of oneself to God. Admakes more sense than a big old sea being herents of Islam are Muslims and it is the parted down the middle so that some chosecond largest religion in the world, second sen group of people can walk through it in only to Christianity. order to not get jacked up by Ramses army.
When I came to that conclusion, I was in my early twenties. Right out of college and REAL SMART. I knew it all. And if I didn’t know it, I could come up with an explanation far better than anyone else. Politicians were way smarter and savvier than any “God” according to my 20-something year old brain. These smart politicians could write a bible, get the world to believe it and even throw in some churches on the corners of our very own neighborhoods so that we would actually be involved in reforming our communities on our own. In my eyes, there was no possible way that a “God” could do all that. I set out on a mission to try and find out how to define exactly what I believed. One thing I knew for sure though, was that I was NOT, nor would ever become a Christian.
Muslims believe that God reveled the Qur’an (Koran) to Muhammad, God’s final prophet and regard the Qur’an and the Sunnah as the fundamental sources of Islam.
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions and is very diverse and complicated. Most Hindus believe the soul is eternal. The basis of their religion is their strong belief in Karma. Karma is the cause and effect that determines ones position in life.
Buddhism requires more explaining than anything else. This faith started thousands of years ago in India and has a lot in common with Hinduism. Buddhists reject the concept of a God and Buddhism is well known for its diverse nature. The basic teachings of Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and The Kalama
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Sutta. Informally put, the Four Noble Truths are as follows: 1. Life is filled with suffering 2. Suffering is caused by people’s wants 3. Suffering can be ended if people stop wanting things, like more pleasure or power (good luck on this one) 4. To stop wanting things people must follow eight basic laws called the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path is a law that followers of the faith practice. In short, the laws of the Eightfold Path are to know truth, intend to resist evil, never say anything to hurt others, respect life, property and morality, to work at a job that does not injure others, to free your mind from evil, to be in control of one’s feelings and thoughts and to practice appropriate forms of concentration.
The Kalama Sutta evolved out of a lecture. Buddha went into this village of a bunch of people called Kalamas and delivered a message to them. In a nutshell, he told them to challenge what is considered to be normal or widely accepted. The Buddhist belief to challenge history and the “norm” is foundation of Kalama Sutta.
Finally, Sikhism was founded by some guy named Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhs believe in a single, formless God who has many names, but can only be known through meditation. That one was easy enough.
Out of the top five, Buddhism sounds like the most fun! But I’m not sure it should be considered a religion. The more information I found the more I began to realize what a religion really was. I also started to see what man and “secret organizations” could create and what man could not. My conclusion became the fact that no man can create Christianity. Man could not write the Old or New Testament on his own, nor could she breathe life into the main religion that exists today. I then began to start classifying religions as religions and all else as philosophy and/or ideology.
The substance and focus of each of these religions is a God. Yet, what separates one religion from others is a personal God. Dr. John Frame, Professor of Systemic Theology and Philosophy at the Reformed TheSeptember / October 2009
ological Seminary in Oviedo, Florida said, “All religions seek a relationship with the absolute, the highest supreme being in the universe.” That one religion that is separated from most others is Christianity.
When I asked Dr. Frame about the parting of the Red Sea, he said, “There are lots of metaphors in the bible. It (the Bible) talks about Jesus being the bread of life. That’s a metaphor, and we need to get something from it. But, the Bible also tells historical events and I think the story of the parting of the Red Sea is a historical event.” I know that God could part the Red Sea if he wanted. And now, as a “sane” adult, I believe he did.
Every day we are surrounded by huge miracles. Miracles that God allows us to witness so often that we sometimes forget that they are of him. For example, if we weren’t immune to the miracle of birth, we would doubt the fact that two people could help in the creation of another human being. It sounds ridiculous that a woman can walk around with another human in her body for 9-months, then push out a big head child right onto a hospital bed when those 9months are up. That child will eventually take on it’s own personality, body, soul and mind and could actually help in the creation of another human being one day. Quite frankly, that sounds more ridiculous than the parting of the Red Sea. But, since God allowed science to explain this one, and it’s something we witness often, we can all believe it without having to just “have faith”. In more recent years, science has declared that a virgin birth is possible.
Yet, God didn’t need a Petri dish and some PH sheets to declare that.
When the movie, The Davinci Code came out, everyone was in an uproar about what Hollywood was presenting. At that time in my life, I was blessed in my faith. I sat in that movie with a box of popcorn and my faith was never shaken. I didn’t have one question after that flick was over. I got in my car and drove home without giving in to the theory that Christ married someone and that there are baby JC’s running around today. I didn’t have those questions, because
when I got sassy in my 20’s and decided to ask God a bunch of questions, he answered them. And now that I’m…well…older, I can go toe to toe in any religious debate I choose. Today, I don’t go to church or read my Bible to be a Christian, I go to church and read my Bible because I am one. I don’t force my Christian beliefs on others, but I don’t hesitate to mention the truth that keeps bringing me through.
Today, I don’t need science to tell me that Christ is the son of God, came to earth in human form, died on the cross and rose again three days later. Nor, do I need science to tell me that Mary delivered Christ through a virgin birth. I know that God literally parted the Red Sea and that he will and can do whatever he wants to do on our behalf if we are willing to challenge ourselves to be honest with him and ask the questions we have deep inside of us, drop our pride and ignorance and demand only truth. I still hunger for more lessons that focus on teaching beyond the “just believe” stage. So many people live in this world and have questions like mine, but stop asking and sometimes they stop believing when people answer them with “just believe”.
Rhonda Byrne’s bestselling book, “The Secret”, which teaches us that all we need is the wonderful power of positive thinking to have a successful life, can be powerfully challenged. Byrne’s book teaches us that we are evolving into gods and through positive thinking, we alone, can self-save. Ed Gungor’s book, “There’s more to the Secret” has an awesome response to her philosophy. In his book, Gungor declares, “I do not believe that human beings are evolving into gods; we will always need God. Neither do I believe humankind can self-save; we need a savior.” Positive thinking is powerful, but as Dr. Frame so simply put it, “It is not the gospel.”
One thing that still trips me out is that since I have found the truth, I have no doubt anymore. I still have questions, but no doubt. Even when I hear the most powerful messages coming from the most powerful religious leaders, I do not doubt the power of Christianity and that’s an unbelievable feeling to have. Onyx Magazine
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Gregorio Francis: a Dream Realized As a lead partner with one of the largest and most successful plaintiff's law firm in the United States, Gregorio Francis is nationally known as a champion for the people. His colleagues refer to him as an extraordinarily skilled litigator and astute businessman who is driven by his love for his community and justice for those he represents. Beneath his smooth, silk demeanor, lies an intensely focused competitor whose success can only be matched by his generosity and kindness.
By: Lucia Reid Photo Compliments of Full Body Photos
lando before going to Panama. The cultural influence of having being born abroad, then growing up in the Richmond Heights community provided Greg a unique perspective and foundation.
quired him to follow a separate curriculum from other students to expand his educational perspective. At the time, he was not particularly pleased about being identified as “gifted” not only because he was an athlete who excelled at football and track. His athletic life made him “different” from his academic peers, while his studious side had the same effect in sports circles. In retrospect those sparks of contradiction ignited a drive in Greg that still burns on high today.
...He did not have a college degree, yet he was a man of great integrity who left a permanent imprint on Greg’s soul.
As is often the case in America, success is rooted in complex soil. Gregorio Francis (Greg) was six years old when his parents left Panama to start a new life in the United States. The move was the result of his stepfather, John Thompson, having been stationed in Panama as a Navy sailor. While there, he met the love of his life, Annette, whom he married and brought to the United States. Although born in South Carolina, Thompson had already acquired roots in Or22
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After coming to the United States, Greg was enrolled at Pineloch Elementary, where he completed his elementary education before moving on to Westridge Middle School and Oakridge High School. Early in his education, Greg was identified as having unique problem solving skills. As a result, he was placed in the gifted program, which required him to travel to a different school biweekly in elementary school. In junior high and high school, the gifted program re-
After graduating from high school in 1986, Greg attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. During Greg’s undergraduate years, he was involved in a number of leadership organizations including Savant UF and Florida Blue Key. Savant recognizes students with proven leadership abilities. Florida Blue Key is the oldest and most prestigious leadership honorary in the State of Florida. The student
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leaders inducted into Florida Blue Key are selected in accordance with a very strict process; they are the cream of the crop at the University of Florida. Today, the organization remains powerful and politically active. Many former governors of the State of Florida, famous politicians, and business leaders were members of Florida Blue Key during their collegiate years and accessed that network for much of their careers. During the time when Greg was inducted into Blue Key, there were approximately 200 students in Blue Key out of a total student population of 36,000 at the University of Florida. Only two of those chosen, at the time, were black students. Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1991, he enrolled in the law program at the University of Florida, as a Virgil Hawkins Fellow. He graduated from law school in 1994. While in law school, Greg served as a Justice on the Board of Masters, the “Supreme Court” for students at the University of Florida. During his final year of law school, he was the Chief Justice on the Board of Masters, placing him in the position of deciding which cases to be heard.
Greg’s decision to become a lawyer stems back to his childhood in Richmond Heights. He explains, “A lot of kids had the promises of their futures cut short. My best friend ended up with a life sentence for murder and the girl across the street faced similar fate. I grew up in an environment where you had to make potentially life altering choices on a daily basis. The consequences of those choices, which I witnessed others make, left a mark on me. Some made serious mistakes and deserved punishment, while others made rather juvenile indiscretions which were blown out of proportion, yet resulted in them being categorized, leaving them trapped. It was a proving ground where I saw both justice and injustice play out over and over in the streets and playgrounds. I was determined to follow a path that would some day put me in a position to make a difference – to be a voice for the voiceless.
Greg’s greatest influence was his grandfather who raised ten kids on a salary of a dock worker for the Panama Canal. He did not have a college degree, yet he was a man of great integrity who left a permanent imprint on Greg’s soul. As for his mother, Greg said, “My mother just refused to let me fail. One of her sayings was, ‘If better September / October 2009
is possible, good isn’t good enough.’ She always pushed me to go forward to look beyond my current circumstances to dream of things I wanted to be and do––she was a constant endless reservoir of encouragement. My wife, Keisha, now assumes that role. She’s someone that provides never ending inspiration and support. She provides sound advice when I face complex decisions.”
After law school, Greg went to work for a law firm that specialized in medical malpractice defense. There he represented doctors and hospitals and also defended cities and counties for personal injury causes of action. Soon he became a partner in that firm. After the six years of practice, he joined Morgan & Morgan. At the time that he joined Morgan & Morgan, he was welcomed with open arms; but it was also explained to him, while he could do well there, he will never be an equity shareholder, because that’s not how the business plan was set up. After five years, as a result of the abilities he demonstrated both in the courtroom, as well as his ability to bring in new cases, he became an equity shareholder at the firm of Morgan & Morgan, P.A.. Currently, Greg is part of the Executive Management Committee of shareholders, who oversees the day to day management of the firm and expansion into different markets. Morgan & Morgan, P.A. is one of the largest personal injury firms in the United States with more than 120 attorneys nationwide.
Being an attorney has been a rewarding challenge for Greg. In one of his cases, where he served as co-counsel with Johnny Cochran, Jr. a scared young man attempted to flee from police. During the chase, the police alleged that he reached into his waistband so they shot him in the back and killed him. He was later found to be totally unarmed. Greg stated, “He should not have had to die that way. I feel it is my calling to stand up for those, like this unarmed man, who sadly faced such injustice.”
Greg is currently litigating a case on behalf of a number of Black farmers, “Pigford II”. It involves farmers who have been wrongly discriminated against for many years by the United States Government. The government now has acknowledged that there was discrimination and seeks to compensate the farmers for the discrimination. Greg said, “One can do well AND do good at the same time. ‘Pigford II’ is a case
where I can do a lot of good for thousands of farmers and their families who have suffered discrimination for many years.”
“I’m also currently representing a family of immigrants whose child allegedly suffered malpractice. She is now blind, partially deaf and will never be able to take care of herself. The fact that her parents were not born here does not mean that child’s plight should not be heard and addressed. “
On May 16, 2009, Greg was inducted honorary member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. This is a testament to his respectability in the community.
On his way to building his illustrious career, Greg has aligned himself with the community, as well. Currently, he is General Council for the Lay-ministry of the African American Episcopal Church where he represents all the non-ministerial members of the AME Church––about three million people. After this appointment, 100 Black Men came calling and asked him to join their organization. He also serves on the Board of the Nap Ford Charter School, which educates mainly inner city kids. In addition, he is on the Board of the Nehemiah Educational and Economic Development Inc., which administers grants for AIDS patients in the Eatonville and Apopka area. Moreover, he recently was appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which serves Orange and Osceola Counties (The JNC is the group that interviews and sends the names for consideration by the governor for open judge seats). On May 16th, Francis was inducted as an honorary member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. This is a testament to his respectability in the community and one of the high points in his life.
And now, after five years, as a result of the abilities Greg has demonstrated both in the courtroom as well as his ability to bring in a tremendous amount of cases, he became an equity shareholder at the firm of Morgan and Morgan––a happy ending to part one of a story that’s just begun. Greg has a brilliant future ahead of him. He is definitely one to watch. On a personal note, Francis and his wife have one daughter and one son, Grier and Gregorio, II. Onyx Magazine
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Governor Charlie Crist Appoints 85th Person to the Florida Supreme Court
Courtesy of the Governor’s Press Office: Gov. Charlie Crist announcing his appointment of Perry to the Florida Supreme Court at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee; Perry’s family members stand in the background.
James E. C. Perry, the fourth African-American to serve on the Florida Supreme Court, formally took his seat at the bench at a ceremonial session June 5 in Tallahassee attended by several hundred guests, one of the largest crowds in the high court’s history.
“I’m very proud of the diversity this appointment represents,” said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who appointed Perry. “I am enormously proud that this great man is a part of this great Court.”
The gathering was historic. All three of the other black Justices who served on the Court participated. Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince presided over the ceremony, and the first AfricanAmerican Justice Joseph Hatchett administered the oath of office to Perry. Florida’s first black Chief Justice Leander J. Shaw Jr. gave a Bible to Perry for the swearing in.
“I am acutely conscious of the distinguished history of this Court,” said Perry, 65. “I am also aware that I would not be here were it not for the service and sacrifices of civil rights leaders who turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones.”
A native of New Bern, North Carolina, Perry spent more than 35 years as a lawyer and judge in central Florida before his elevation to the state Supreme Court. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School in New York, and was a moving force in the
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1970s behind an effort that ultimately forced the State of Georgia to stop practices that blocked African-Americans from becoming licensed lawyers.
Prior to attending law school, Perry served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969, reaching the rank of First Lieutenant.
Perry is married to Dr. Adrienne M. Perry, a professor at Stetson University in Florida, who met Perry when she was studying at Columbia. They have three children, businessman Willis Perry, and attorneys Jaimon Perry and Kamilah Perry.
Previously, Perry served as a trial court judge in Seminole County, Florida, near Orlando. He was appointed to that seat in March 2000 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, and later led his judicial circuit as Chief Judge for a two-year term starting in 2003.
Perry has received many awards during his long career, including honors from various chapters of the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund. He has been an avid community volunteer and mentor to youth and was founder of the Jackie Robinson Sports Association, a baseball league serving some 650 at-risk girls and boys. Perry is the 85th person appointed to the Florida Supreme Court after the state entered the Union in 1845. He replaces former Justice Charles T. Wells, who retired in March and returned to private practice. September / October 2009
BCC Service Learning Department Wins National Award
BREVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, (MELBOURNE), FLA. – The Brevard Community College Service Learning Department has been named a winner of a national service learning community engagement award.
The college will be awarded on Thursday, May 21, the 2009 Service Learning and Civic Engagement Collaboration 2009 Service-Learning Collaboration Award.
The award will be presented at the Community College National Center for Community Engagement’s 18th Annual National Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference’s theme is “Unraveling the Mysteries behind Thriving Partnerships in service Learning and Civic Engagement.”
Lyvier Conss, executive director of the CCNCCE, stated in a letter of commendation, ``The readers were very impressed with your award application. The work which you have been doing within the service learning field is commendable. We hope that through your leadership and that of your faculty and staff, more institutions of higher education will integrate service learning and civic engagement within their institutions. You also exemplify the importance of collaboration and how through multiple partnerships, we can accomplish
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social transformation.”
During the conference, instructors for the BCC Service Learning division will share their service learning program with other service learning practitioners. Faculty members Rita Karpie and Sue Phillips will present a general overview of BCC’s Service-Learning Program, and discuss key elements and components of effective service-learning and cutting edge initiatives with key community partners.
“Service is very much a part of BCC’s mission, and this is a great opportunity to share what makes BCC’s Service-Learning program so successful,’’ said Evelyn Young, BCC’s service learning regional coordinator. ``The program could not develop and flourish without tireless and persistent efforts of motivated students, faculty and staff.” Dr. Phil Simpson, associate provost at the BCC Cocoa Campus, said, “The Service-Learning Division is honored to receive this award from the CCNCCE. Of course, such national recognition would not be possible with the contributions from the Service-Learning faculty, staff, students at Brevard Community College and our community partners. Nor would this award be possible without the support, leadership, and advocacy of the college leadership. It’s fitting this award is for collaboration, since the success of BCC’s Service-Learning program is a reflection of the teamwork between the college and the community it serves.”
Photo Cutline: The Brevard Community College Service-Learning Department has been named a winner of the 2009 Service Learning and Civic Engagement Collaboration 2009 Service-Learning Collaboration Award. The award will be presented in Arizona. (l to r) Service-Learning instructors Julie Derrick, Marina Baratian, Sue Phillips, and Evelyn Young, BCC servicelearning south regional coordinator.
Magic Firsts Honored
ORLANDO - On July 15th, The Wells’ Built Museum of African-American History unveiled an exhibit on the Orlando Magic, featuring historic photos, jerseys and other items of interest from the franchise. Magic General Manager Otis Smith, the first African-American general manager for the Magic, Magic Community Ambassador Nick Anderson, the first African-American player drafted by the Magic and Director of Player Development Morlon Wiley, the first African-American player signed by the Magic, is featured in the exhibit. Members of the community and representative of several organizations filled the room where the unveiling took place.
Responses from Alex Martins, COO of the Orlando Magic, and Nick Anderson were received with enthusiasm and followed by a toast. Otis Smith was away in Las Vegas attending the Summer League.
Derrick Gatlin, executive director; Nick Anderson; Alex Martins, Magic COO, Rep. Thompson, founding president
Alex Martins
Alvin Cowans, Nick Anderson
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Florida Scope
Bob “Bullet” Hayes Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
JACKSONVILLE - Seven years after his death, former Dallas Cowboy’s receiver, Bob Hayes was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
Hayes, who played from 1965-1974 and averaged a touchdown every 5.2 catches, died of kidney failure in 2002. But through his sister, Lucille Hester, Hayes was able to thank everyone associated with his career. Hayes has the distinction of being the only person to win an Olympic Gold Medal and a Super Bowl ring.
Commissioner Yvonne Garth, Miramar; Congressman Kendrick Meek; Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, retired; Broward Commissioner Josephus Eggelleton, Jr.
BROWARD COUNTY - The Broward Black Elected Officials honored Congressman Kendrick Meek and his mother, Congresswoman Carrie P.Meek, retired, for their community service at their fourth annual Black History gala, "Living the Legacy." The gala drew 800 guests and was held Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the Hard Rock LIVE. The event raised more than $50,000 for the organization's scholarship fund.
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Hayes was a senior nominee and one of six members of the Class of 2009.
President Reed Named to Federal Judicial Nominating Commission
DAYTONA BEACH (B-CU) B-CU President Trudie Kibbe Reed has been invited by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson to serve on the federal Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) established by Florida’s two U.S. Senators. The JNC is charged with making recommendations on the most qualified candidates to serve in certain federal judicial and law enforcement positions including U.S. District Judge, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal in Florida. “Being asked to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission is a tremendous honor and a great responsibility,” noted Reed. “The people of Florida deserve public servants in these important positions who maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and knowledge of the law. By serving, I hope to provide valuable input throughout the selection process and uphold the values and commitment to
the betterment of society embodied by BCU’s founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.”
“Senator Martinez and I tried to provide a process beyond the reach of partisan politics to help select the top candidates for jobs that involve upholding the public trust,” said Senator Bill Nelson. “We consider President Reed to be among the best and brightest in the state.”
Recommendations made by the JNC to Senators Nelson and Martinez determine – subject to agreement by the senators – which prospective nominees are then forwarded to the White House for presidential consideration. To make recommendations, members of the JNC invite applications for open positions. Following a careful and thorough review, the JNC members then select finalists who possess the professional qualifications, character, integrity, intellect, experience, temperament, professional competence, maturity, capacity for growth and other characteristics necessary to perform the duties of the offices for which they are applying and uphold the public trust.
President Reed will serve a two-year term as a member of the JNC’s Middle District Conference – one of three JNC conferences corresponding to each of the three federal judicial districts in the state. All members of the commission are volunteers and are responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the conference.
Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed
September / October 2009
FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS
DAYTONA BEACH - Central Florida Community Development Corporation (CFCDC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization established to provide affordable housing opportunities to low and moderate income persons. CFCDC will be having its First Time Homebuyers Workshops on: April 6, 2009 and April 13, 2009 May 4, 2009 and May 11, 2009 June 1, 2009 and June 8, 2009 July 6, 2009 and July 13, 2009 August 3, 2009 and August 10, 2009 October 5, 2009 and October 12, 2009 December 7, 2009 and December 14, 2009
AT&T Donates $50,000 to Reed Educational Campus
Classes are free and held 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Votran Bus Service Center, 950 Big Tree Rd, South Daytona. At this workshop, potential homeowners learn about credit and debt management, home and property selection, home financing and repairs and money management. This information is provided as a pre-requisite to obtaining or qualifying for down payment assistance. Space is limited so please contact Janice Thomas at (386) 253-3232.
DAYTONA BEACH - Bethune-Cookman University President Trudie Kibbe Reed appointed Dr. Castell V. Bryant interim vice president of academic affairs for the university, effective December 1.
Dr. Bryant brings more than 20 years of expertise in higher education to B-CU, including experience as campus president for several campuses of Miami-Dade College and as interim president of Florida A&M University (FAMU). She is a former member of the FAMU Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors, a panel charged with governing Florida’s university system. Dr. Bryant received her undergraduate degrees from Florida A&M University and her doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University.
“I am honored to be joining the administration of Bethune-Cookman University,” noted Dr. Bryant. “This institution has such a rich legacy of academic excellence and community service. I look forward to working with Dr. Reed and the dedicated team of B-CU faculty and staff to ensure that the tradition continues for generations to come.”
President Reed also noted that Dr. Bryant played an important role making the Florida Classic a financial success for both B-CU and FAMU. Working together when Dr. Bryant was interim president of FAMU, she and Dr. Reed collaborated on a variety of fiscal accountability and budget measures. Last year, B-CU and FAMU each received $1.6 million from the annual football game and its related events. Prior to 2005, each institution was averaging less than $500,000 annually.
Dr. Castell V. Bryant
September / October 2009
During her high school years in Jasper, Florida, Dr. Bryant was fortunate enough to have a teacher who was a graduate of Bethune-Cookman College. Field trips to the Bethune-Cookman campus were always on this teacher’s agenda, and part of this wonderful experience was the opportunity to personally meet with Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. “It is an honor and privilege to work with someone who has personally been in the presence of and dialogued with our illustrious founder. Dr. Bryant’s leadership will help to further sustain and energize our founder’s legacy of faith, scholarship, and service,” noted President Reed.
Marshall Criser, Pres./CEO; Tony Hill, the senior U.S. diplomat in Bermuda; Gertrude Peele, executive director; Heather Duncan, director of external Affairs
JACKSONVILLE -Thanks toAT&T’s donation of $50,000, the expansion of the Reed Educational Campus will become a reality. The contribution will help girls from the underprivileged area of Northwest Jacksonville experience educational and social guidance. This initiative is part of the National Council of Negro Women’s Child Watch Partnership of Jacksonville, Inc. Gertrude H. Peele is the executive director of the program. The Reed Educational Campus serves girls between the ages of 9 and 12 and provides learning experiences in sustainable living, such as math, computer skills, nutrician the arts, reading, health and physical fitness.
Said Marshall Criser, CEO, “The National Council of Negro Women’s Child Watch Partnership of Jacksonville provides the young women of this community with the educational tools and support to shape their future.” “I have watched the Reed Educational Campus grow from meager beginnings to a beautiful safe-haven for our community’s young girls,” said Peele. In 2008, AT&T sponsored over $6.6 million in charitable contributions. Onyx Magazine
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JAMES WELDON JOHNSON — JACKSONVILLE’S MOST PROLIFIC SON BY Randolph Bracy, Jr., M.Div., Ed.D.
My first recollection of James Weldon Johnson, the personality, occurred when I was enrolled at the then all-segregated A. L. Lewis Elementary School on Beaver Street in the 1950s’. This was also a time of Jim Crow and everything about Jacksonville was “separate but equal.”
In those days, we as students, marched to the weekly assembly where our fifth grade class gathered in an auditorium setting and our teachers introduced us to the Negro National Anthem written by James Weldon Johnson — “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.”
Even then, there was something special about learning and subsequently singing this song with its rich powerful poetic lines accompanied with strong melodic bass chords from the pen of a black man. My personal reminiscences of Jacksonville then suggest that there was not a black child going through the Duval County public school system that was not introduced to the Negro National Anthem in those days.
Back then, I did not know much about the history surrounding this great song, but I would later learn from former Fisk University President, Dr. Walter Leonard that James Weldon Johnson wrote this song at the turn of the twentieth century, literally some thirty-five years removed from slavery’s end as the black man’s answer to the “Star Spangled Banner” written by Francis Scott Key.1
James Weldon Johnson was a man who was far ahead of his time. He would later go on to become one of the most prolific personalities of the twentieth century, and catapulted into greatness from his humble beginnings in Jacksonville. He was born James William Johnson (later changed to Weldon) in Jacksonville, Florida in 1871 — six years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation — the son of Helen Louise Dillet and James
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Johnson. Johnson was first educated by his mother (a musician and a public school teacher — the first female, black teacher in Florida at a grammar school) and then at Edwin M. Stanton School, a school for the children of newly emancipated slaves named for the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of War in President Abraham Lincoln’s Administration.
Johnson was a precocious child, and at the age of 16 he enrolled at Atlanta University, from which he graduated in 1894. Along with his bachelor's degree, Johnson subsequently completed some graduate coursework there, and would later receive an honorary Master's degree in 1904.
After graduation from Atlanta University Johnson returned to the Stanton School in Jacksonville until 1906, where, at the young age of 35, he became principal.
Molded by the classical education for which Atlanta University was best known at the time, Johnson dedicated his life and talents to the uplift of black people. History would show that Johnson would do this and do it well over the next 35 years in the areas of education, diplomacy, civil rights activism, literature, poetry, and music.
THE EARLY YEARS In 1897, Johnson was the first African American admitted to the Florida Bar since Reconstruction. To receive entry, Johnson underwent a two-hour examination before three attorneys and a judge. He later recalled that one of the examiners, not wanting to see a black man admitted, left the room. As principal of the Stanton School, Johnson found himself the head of the largest public school in Jacksonville. For his work, Johnson received a paycheck less than half of what was offered to a white colleague possessing a comparable position. Johnson improved education at the Stanton
Randolph Bracy, Jr., M.Div., Ed.D.
School by adding ninth and tenth grades. Algebra, English composition, physical geography and bookkeeping were a part of the added ninth grade curriculum. The tenth grade curriculum consisted of geometry, English literature, elementary physics, history and Spanish.
In 1901, Johnson moved to New York City with his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson to work in musical theater. They produced such hits as "Tell Me, Dusky Maiden" and "Nobody's looking but the Owl and the Moon." Johnson composed the lyrics of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," originally written for a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday at the Stanton School. This song would later become to be known and adopted by the NAACP as the Negro National Anthem.
After successes with their songwriting and music the brothers Johnson worked Broadway and composed the opera "Tolosa". James Weldon enjoying unusual success as a songwriter for Broadway shows, moved into the upper echelons of African American society in Brooklyn, New York where he met his future spouse, Grace Nail.
THE DIPLOMAT YEARS At the turn of the century, the Republican Party — the party of Lincoln — had a strong grip on registered black voters and James Weldon Johnson was a strong leader in the party.
Johnson showed tremendous political savvy in 1904 when he accepted a position as the treasurer of the Colored Republican Club. A year later he became the president of the club. His duties as president included organizing political rallies. He later went to work on Theodore Roosevelt's presidential campaign. When elected, President Roosevelt appointed Johnson as U.S. consul at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela from 1906–1908 and then Nicaragua from 1909–1913. September / October 2009
James Weldon Johnson
During his six-year stay in South America Johnson completed his most famous book The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man which was published anonymously in 1912.
In 1914 Johnson took over the editorial page of the New York Age, an influential African American weekly that supported Booker T. Washington in his struggle with W.E.B. DuBois for leadership of black America in the early twentieth century. Johnson's writing for the Age displayed his tremendous political gifts that would ultimately catapult him into national prominence. In 1916 Johnson became the national organizer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which had been founded in 1909 by W.E. B. Dubois and others in the Niagara Movement.
THE NAACP YEARS Near the close of World War I, race riots in the north and lynchings in the south dominated the national scene. Johnson engaged the NAACP in mass tactics, such as a silent protest parade down New York's Fifth Avenue on July 28, 1917 in which ten thousand African Americans took part.
In 1920 Johnson was elected to head the NAACP, the first African American to hold this position. While serving the NAACP from 1914 through 1930 Johnson started as an organizer and eventually became the first black male secretary in the organization's history. While serving in the NAACP Johnson was involved in initiating the drive behind the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill of 1921.
THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE YEARS The poetry of James Weldon Johnson, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and the writings of
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people like W.E.B. Dubois ignited the Harlem Renaissance. In 1922, Johnson edited The Book of American Negro Poetry. One of the works for which he is best remembered today is God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse, which was published in 1927 and celebrates the tradition of the black folk preacher. Perhaps the most well known opus from this work was “The Creation” which is still recited across America today.
Other works from that era include The Book of American Negro Spirituals (1925), Black Manhattan (1930), his exploration of the contribution of AfricanAmericans to the cultural scene of New York, and Negro Americans, What Now? (1934), a book calling for civil rights for African Americans. Johnson was also an accomplished anthologist. His collections provided inspiration, encouragement, and recognition to the new generation of artists who would create the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s.
Throughout the 1920s Johnson was one of the major inspirations and promoters of the Harlem Renaissance trying and would be a major force to refute condescending white criticism and helping young black writers to get published.
James Weldon Johnson was one of the first African American professors at New York University. He is best remembered for his writing, which includes novels, poems, and collections of folklore. Later in life he became professor of creative literature and writing at Fisk University.
James Weldon Johnson died in 1938 while on vacation in Maine, when a train hit the car he was driving. More than 2000 people attended his funeral in Harlem.
As the NAACP celebrates its Centennial Anniversary (1909-2009), tribute should be paid to Jacksonville’s most prolific son — James Weldon Johnson — the writer of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”
REFERENCE One Interview with Dr. Walter Leonard, former President of Fisk University at the opening of the Florida A & M University College of Law, 2002.
H-U-M-M-M, Unbelievable
• Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. • John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. • Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. • John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
• Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. • Both wives lost their children while living in the White House. • Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. • Both Presidents were shot in the head.
Now it gets really weird.
• Lincoln 's secretary was named Kennedy. • Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln .
• Both were assassinated by Southerners. • Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
• Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808. • Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
• John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. • Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born _in 1939. • Both assassins were known by their three names. • Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Now hang on to your seat.
• Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford'. • Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln ' made by Ford'.
• Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse. • Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.
• Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
And here's the kicker...
• A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe,
Maryland. • AweekbeforeKennedywasshot,hewasallegedtohave beenwithMarilynMonroe.
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Yes, I did it. I chose the wrong place to interview Thomas McClary. You see, everyone who walked into Johnson’s Diner that day wanted to have conversation with the well-known member of the Commodores, but he handled it well. You see, being a celebrity is not as easy as one might think. But we got through it despite multiple interruptions.
Thomas “Mr. Brickhouse” McClary is a native of Eustis, Florida. Having been born into a musical family, of four boys (including himself) and four girls, he claims that he’s the least musical of them all. Is there anyone out there who believes that? In fact, his family performed on many occasions as The McClarys.
Growing up, young Thomas McClary enjoy baseball and was the pitcher on his high school team. (Side bar: McClary was the first black to integrate the school system
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in the state of Florida.) Says he, “I wasn’t fast, but I was good.” He said that he would get thrown out trying to convert a double into a triple. It just wasn’t happening.
Eustis had one radio station that only played Country and Easy Listening music, but Thomas would tune in to the Nashville station late at night where most teens of the 50’s and 60’s listened. That way, he was able to keep up with the blues and R&B of the day. Early on, he was influenced by The Beatles, James Taylor, Elton John, BB King, Wes Montgomery, Carlos Santana and the like. The thing that puzzled his young mind the most was, how Jerry Butler could come out with a hit and be booked at
the Elks Club, but Elton John could come out with a record and perform at the coliseum. He, therefore, discovered early that mass appeal was key, and authentication was critical.
Said Thomas, “I remember Zip Miller who was 95 years old at the time. He was the first to show me chords on a ukulele. My brother, Samuel, played all of the instruments, so between the two of them, they gave me my first lessons. When I went to Tuskegee, I was still playing the guitar and tuning it like a ukulele. The boys would tease me because the ukulele influenced my techniques and strumming style. They’d say, ‘Man, this is some different kind of funk here.’” McClary was the founding member of the Commodores. According to him, he was standing the registration line, when he heard this guy behind him whistling an Eddie Harris song called “Listen Here”.
By Lucia Reid
September / October 2009
Turning to him, McClary asked, “Are you a musician?” He told him that he was going to put this band together and they were going to be the “Black Beetles”. Tiptoeing as he was expressing his intentions, the guy looked at him and said, “You’re serious, aren’t you?” The guy was Lionel Richie.
When McClary was at Tuskegee, Tom Joyner was singing with the Duponts. Said McClary, “They sang all the Delfonics stuff, but they didn’t have a band. When the two groups got together to go places, they would call it the CommodoresDupont Show.” Depending of what kind of a spin you put on it, one could say that Tom Joyner was a part of the Commodores. It was really as close as one could get, because the Commodores had the band and the Duponts had the singers.
The organizational meeting of the Commodores was held in the basement of Lionel Richie’s grandmother’s house. At one point the Commodores merged with the Jays. They had a base player named Michael Gilbert who was their singer, but in 1968, he was drafted into the Viet Nam War; therefore, placing them back to square one.
During the summers, the Commodores would go to New York where they met their manager, Benny Ashburn. Ashburn was a friend of Suzanne de Passe who left New York to work with Berry Gordy in the Creative Department. “That was about the time that the Jackson Five was getting ready to come out with their first single,” stated McClary, “ The single was a ‘smash’.” As a result, they started going on tours and were invited to the Ed Sullivan Show. Meanwhile, Suzanne de Passe remembered that Benny Ashburn, her old buddy, was managing a group called the Commodores, and asked Benny if the Commodores wanted to audition to travel with the Jackson Five. The answer was obvious, “Well, Y-e-a-h,” said McClary. “We won the audition and for two years, we were the opening act for the Jackson Five. After the two years had expired, we signed with Motown.” As a result of signing with Motown, the Commodores, had great opportunities to talk to Marvin Gay, Smokey Robinson and Quincy Jones who often gave valuable advice regarding the industry. Motown initially wanted to go with all the musicians and singers that had gotten hits. They had writers who wrote for the
September / October 2009
people they signed, but McClary and his group told Berry Gordy that they wanted to write their own songs. Being very adamant about it, Gordy finally said, “I’ve never seen a bunch of guys with such strong convictions.” He agreed to let them write their own material saying that if they did not come out with a hit, Motown would just
same hotel, hung over the balcony and said, “I’m the greatest, who are these guys?” Although the group’s first album had gone gold, they were still like a group without a face, but not for long. “I Feel Sanctified” was released soon after,” Slippery When Wet”, written by McClary followed. Lionel Richie and Thomas McClary wrote fifty percent of the songs. James Carmichael, the Commodores’ co-producer, was the other contributor.
The Commodores also did crossover touring with the Rolling Stones. Their largest crowd was at the Toronto Jam where 500,000 were in attendance. At that point, international tours had become a way of life as they toured the states, Europe and the Orient. Writing on the road became necessary, because by the time the tour was completed it was time to put out another album.
write it off.
The first album that the Commodores popped out was “Machine Gun” and it went gold. Motown had never sold a gold album in the history of the company––they had gold singles, but no gold albums.
At that time, the Commodores were still unsure of whom their lead singer would be. Lionel Richie was mainly playing saxophone, he started singing on the Jackson Five tour, but it was more or less a cover song. Said McClary, “We would do ‘Wichita Lineman’ by Glen Campbell, but we would ‘blackenize’ it. We would take James Sill and Three Dog Night songs and ‘Commodorerize’ it. People would say, the melody sounds familiar, but it has a funky arrangement. We had to do something to give writers reason to write about us.
“We started touring after our first album, and actually broke the Beetles’ attendance record in the Philippines, which was unheard of,” said McClary. ‘Machine Gun’ written by Myron Williams, broke all kinds of record sales in Nigeria and the Orient. As the Commodores were touring in 1974 in Manila during the time Mohammed Ali had the “Thriller in Manila”, Ferdinand Marcos was the president and ordered the military to escort them from the airport, because the crowds were unbelievable. When they got to the hotel––Ali, who was staying in the
As a group, the Commodores put out 13 albums. All of them went gold at the least; however, most went platinum, double platinum and triple platinum. To top it off, they were the first act at Motown to get their publishing rights. As a result, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Norma Whitfield got theirs. “Berry Gordy was not giving up his publishing rights,” said McClary, “and the only way we got ours was because our contract was up. We had a one-album deal with an option. We had sold 500,000 albums, so we had an option to leave.” The only thing that kept the Commodores at Motown was that Gordy agreed to let them have their publishing rights.
Today, Thomas McClary has his own foundation, Mr. Brick House Foundation. The funding is earmarked to help needy children. He went to Vancouver, British Columbia to do a fund-raiser on Mother’s Day. Those funds will go to kids who have lupus and arthritis. Kids Across America is another organization with which he works. Locally, he works with Doc Rivers’ Celebrity Golf Tournament every year to raise money for Shepard’s Hope, an event that was held this year on July 16th at Grand Cypress. Well, in spite of a number of interuptions, the interview finally ended, and I left Thomas McClary behind to face his admirers––but he could handle it. Onyx Magazine
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“If you don’t touch people’s hearts, it doesn’t mean anything.” Those were the words of wisdom Melba Moore’s mother impressed upon her. Decades later Melba’s work and music has touched the hearts of millions of people all over the world. Growing up in a musical family, Melba could not escape her destiny. Her mother and stepfather supported her musical talent and gave her all the necessary tools such as, dance, voice and piano lessons to help foster her love for the arts. When Melba graduated from college she decided to become a music teacher. Although her teaching ex32
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perience was rewarding and fulfilling, she still had a desire to entertain people with her music. Finally, in 1967 she followed her heart and decided to give the entertainment business a try. As destiny would have it, she was cast in the original Broadway rock musical “Hair.” Later on, she replaced Diane Keaton in
the lead role as Shelia and made history as the first African-American to replace a white actress in a leading role. She made Broadway history again when she won the Tony Award for best supporting actress with
...The audience finds themselves soaring like an eagle on the keyboard of time while listening to her five-octave range. September / October 2009
her show-stopping vocal performance as Lutiebelle Gussiemae Jenkins in the Broadway musical “Purlie” written by Ossie Davis.
After winning the Tony Award Melba’s career skyrocketed. In 1972, she starred in her own variety series titled “The Melba Moore/Clifton Davis Hour”. Five years later, she appeared in the movie version of “Hair.” Her success was followed by many more movie and television appearances was also successful in her music career. Several of her music releases made the top ten charts. In 1982, her dance/club track “Love’s Comin’ at Ya” took the number five spot on the Billboard R&B charts. In 1986, her duet with Freddie Jackson titled “A Little Bit More” took the number one spot. That same year, her next release, “Falling”, took the number one spot as well. Her 1990 recording of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," was instrumental in having the song entered into the Congressional Record as the official African-American National Anthem.
In 2003, I had the opportunity to see the phenomenal Melba Moore perform live in the Jackie Wilson Story at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Her voice was incredible. I also saw her one-woman show in 2005 while I was in New York City, and she was magnificent. Melba took her mother’s words to heart. Her God given ability to live through every note that she sings takes her listening audience through time and imagination. The audience finds themselves soaring like an eagle on the keyboard of time while listening to her five-octave range.
Today, the multi-talented Melba continues to spellbound audiences in the Gospel arena with her latest CD release titled “Nobody But Jesus”. As a former teacher, her heart still goes out to the children. She has become an advocate for children’s rights, and has established the “Melba Moore Foundation for Abused and Neglected Children.” With over forty years in the entertainment industry, Melba Moore has earned her title as a Legend.
For more information visit: www.melbamoore.com Sandi Morais is the author of Tune-up fitness book and Recipe for Life vegetarian cookbook. She is the creator of the Tune-up total body workout and the Golden Workout. Sandi also writes the Sistah Health column for Wow magazine, and she is the co-writer on the musical Sacha on Broadway with Philip Michael Thomas. September / October 2009
Actress/Celebrity Healthy Living-Expert A.J. Johnson, Joins Local Women’s Health Initiative Orlando New Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando will be hosting “Thick Thighs—Thin Ice,” a free women’s health forum encouraging exercise and wellness on Saturday, August 29, 2009 from 8:00 am-2:00 pm. The program will feature breakout sessions with local physicians, healthy eating seminar with cooking demonstration, and a keynote session with Celebrity healthy living coach, A.J. Johnson.
The church’s Health Ministry—led by Dr. Kimberly Hicks and Dr. Lavon Bracy, wife of Senior Pastor Randolph Bracy— hosts several events a year that focus on key issues in African-American health. In the past, they have addressed everything from high-blood pressure and diabetes screening to routine maintenance and cancer prevention. This will be their first initiative directed specifically at women. “Women provide the example for how our families eat and grow. If we aren’t healthy, how can we take care of our families or expect our children to grow up healthy?” asks Dr. Hicks.
New Covenant is teaming with two non-profit groups founded by local African-American female physicians. Dr. Chandra A. Henry is an OB/GYN and CEO of Ruby-Ellis Foundation, dedicated to providing education in women’s health issues. Dr. Toni Moody is a pediatrician and CEO of Health Masters Club, whose mission focuses on preventing pediatric
obesity. A third non-profit group, Soul Food Pyramid, headed by Roniece Weaver, will be on hand to provide healthy eating tips and a cooking demonstration. The presenters will be joined by Dr. Marla Price, a local Family Medicine physician who will also provide relevant information in her respective field. Says Dr. Henry, “We are so excited about this venture because it is our first conference put on by women, about women, for women. Having A.J. here will only make it that much more special.”
Many know film actress A.J. Johnson from leading roles in House Party, Inkwell, and John Singleton’s critically-acclaimed Baby Boy. Ms. Johnson has parleyed her successful acting career and interest in healthy living into a booming healthy living business, hosting a VH1 show, FLAB to FAB and adjusting the lives of clientele such as Beyonce, Chaka Khan and actress Gabrielle Union. A.J., an advisory board member and one of the first non physician spokespersons for GSK pharmaceuticals, travels as a guest speaker, sharing her knowledge and encouraging others to reach their healthy living goals. The collaboration with New Covenant Ministries is her latest in a string of appearances, including Proctor & Gamble’s MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL tour and the Essence Festival in New Orleans. The forum will be held on the church’s campus at 2210 S. Rio Grande Ave, Orlando, FL. Registration starts at 8:00 am and the event is open and free to the public. Lunch will be provided for attendees at no cost. Contact: Chandra A. Henry, M.D., CEO Ruby Ellis Foundation, Inc. HealthyWoman@RubyEllisFoundtion.org. (904) 200-9797
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By Sandi Morais
I have always wanted to interview Attorney Willie Gary from the first time I saw a video with excerpts from his life. What inspired me most about him was the fact that he came from humble beginnings, and he never used his circumstances to stop him from achieving excellence. It took me six years to finally get an interview with Mr. Gary, but it was worth the wait. Mr. Gary gives credit to his parents, Turner and Mary Gary, for the strong spiritual foundation they instilled in him. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.” Philippians 4:13 is his favorite Bible verse.” He planted those words firmly into his heart.
Over the years, Mr. Gary has had tremendous success taking on some of Americas most powerful companies and winning millions of dollars in settlement for his clients. In 1995 his half-billion dollar verdict against the Loewen Group, a Canadian funeral home chain in Mississippi was celebrated around the world as the largest jury verdict in the history of America. The success of the verdict catapulted his legal career and created a media frenzy. He appeared on “CBS Evening News,” “ABC’s World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Early Show” with Bryant Gumbel. He was also featured in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Jet Magazine, Black Enterprise, Fortune and the National Law Journal. He has been listed in Forbes Magazine as one of the top 50 attorneys in the United States. However, fame and fortune did not change Mr. Gary’s heart. His father once told him, “Make the money, but don’t let the money make you.”
In 1994, he and his wife Dr. Gloria Gary established The Gary Foundation to help provide scholarships for at-risk students who would like to attend college. The memory of his experience in 1967 at Shaw University left an impression on his heart and inspired him to set up the foundation. Shaw University waved the $10.00 registration fee that he could not afford and gave him a chance to pursue a college degree, when other colleges had closed their doors. He returned the favor to the university by donating a gift of 10 million dollars to help improve their facility and provide scholarships for students. Millions of dollars have been donated through the foundation to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Mr. Gary knows first hand the importance of an education. He believes that education is power and without it he would not be where he is today. He has taken time out of
his busy schedule to speak at numerous schools throughout the United States encouraging students to stay in school and get an education. On February 5, 2005, he received the first annual William H. and Camille O. Cosby Philanthropic Award for his outstanding contribution to help enrich the lives of African-Americans through education.
Another project that is close to Mr. Gary’s heart is the annual Kidz Carnival that he created in Stuart, Florida where he resides. Every Christmas for the past eight years he makes wishes come true for young disadvantage children by donating over 3,000 toys to the carnival. It gives him a tremendous amount of joy to see the smiles on the faces of young children. Mr. Gary believes that all children need to have strong positive role models. Because of his deep concern about the negative images that African-American children and their families are exposed to on television, he decided to create a television network. In 1999 he launched the Black Family Channel to provide wholesome programs with strong family values for the urban community. Ebony Magazine listed him as one of the 100 most influential African-Americans.
Mr. Gary is famous in the legal field as the “Giant Killer,” but to the people whose lives he has touched, he is known for his “Giant Heart.” On February 19, 2009 when I interviewed Mr. Gary, he was making a dream come true for the boys and girls club of Martin County by donating six acres of land to build their new headquarters. His donation was from a piece of land that was given to him by his late father. The new headquarters of the boys and girls club will be named in honor of his parents Turner and Mary Gary.
Mr. Gary exemplifies the true meaning of the philanthropic spirit, a quality that he has imparted to his sons Kenneth, Ali, Sekou and Kobie. His life story is currently being considered in Hollywood to be produced as a major motion picture. The movie will be an inspiration to people all over the world. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to interview a man with such a caring, compassionate and giving heart. In closing my interview, I asked Mr. Gary what was his prayer for the world, and he said, “Peace, peace, peace.”
For more information visit www.garyfoundation.co
NAACP HONORS LONG-TIME ACTIVIST, STATESMAN AND ACADEMICIAN JULIAN BOND WITH 94TH SPINGARN MEDAL
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Board of Directors announces that its Chairman, The Honorable Julian Bond, will be the 94th recipient of the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP's highest honor. Bond will receive the award during the NAACP National Convention in New York City July 16 at the annual Spingarn Dinner as the Association continues celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding.
The Spingarn Medal, instituted in 1914 by the late Joel E. Spingarn, then NAACP Chairman, is awarded for the highest or noblest achievement by an American of African descent during the preceding year or years.
"Chairman Bond‘s record of service and leadership is legendary and inspiring," said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “He has suffered and survived many attacks from extremists, but has always stood strong. His passionate oratory, deep thinking, political savvy and sense of humor make him a unique scholar-statesman of our time and an omnipresent soldier in the struggle for equality on many fronts.”
Bond has served as Chairman of the National Board of the NAACP since 1998, being re-elected most recently Feb. 21.
Having been on the cutting edge of social change since 1960, Bond has faced jail for his convictions and being an active participant in the movements for civil rights and economic justice. In his student days as founder of the Atlanta student sit-ins at Morehouse College, he directed three years of nonviolent anti-segregation protests that won integration of Atlanta’s movie theaters, lunch counters and parks. He was arrested for sitting-in at the then-segregated cafeteria at Atlanta City Hall. He was also cofounder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, becoming its Communications Director and later working in voter registration drives in rural Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas.
He was prevented from taking his seat in the Georgia House of Representatives in 36
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1965 by members who objected to his opposition to the Vietnam War. He was reelected to his own vacant seat and un-seated again, and seated only after a third election and a unanimous decision of the United States Supreme Court. He would become a veteran of both chambers, putting in more than 20 years of service in the Georgia General Assembly.
Co-chair of a challenge delegation from Georgia to the 1968 Democratic Convention, Bond was nominated for Vice-President of the U.S. but had to decline because he was too young. He was the first African American to be nominated for vice president of the United States.
Last April Bond was named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress and in 2002 received the prestigious National Freedom Award from the U.S. Civil Rights Museum, which honors individuals whohave made significant contributions in civil rights and who have laid the foundation for present and future leaders in the battle for human rights.
With his bold, distinguishable voice he has narrated numerous documentaries, including the Academy Award winning "A Time For Justice" and the prize-winning and critically acclaimed series, "Eyes On The Prize," that chronicles the American civil rights era of the ‘50s and ‘60s. He was a commentator on America's Black Forum, the oldest black-owned show in television syndication, while his poetry and articles have appeared in numerous publications. Affectionately known as “the dean of civil rights,” Bond is frequently interviewed on news shows, hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 1977 and even had a small appearance in the critically-acclaimed movie Ray in 2004.
Bond serves as Chairman of the Premier Auto Group PAG (Volvo, Land Rover, Aston-Martin, and Jaguar) Diversity Council and is on the boards of People for the American Way, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Council for a Livable World, and the advisory board of the Harvard Business School initiative on Social Enterprise,
among others.
The holder of 25 honorary degrees, he is a distinguished professor at American University in Washington, DC, and a professor of history at the University of Virginia.
The purpose of the Spingarn Medal is to call attention to distinguished merit and achievement among Americans of African descent, serve as a reward for such achievement and stimulate the ambition of youth of African descent. A nine person committee manages the Spingarn Medal selection process. The committee’s decision is final in all matters affecting the award.
To date, 93 Spingarn Medals have been awarded, recognizing achievements in a range of fields. Medalists include Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), former U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, media personality Oprah Winfrey, baseball hall of famer Henry "Hank" Aaron, Vernon Jordan, U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), William H. Cosby, Jr., Maya Angelou, Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Percy E. Sutton, the late Gordon Parks, John Hope Franklin, the late Judge Leon Higginbotham Jr., the late Carl Rowan, NAACP Chair Emeritus Myrlie Evers-Williams, businessman and publisher Earl G. Graves, Sr., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., artist Jacob Lawrence, Rosa Parks, opera singer Leontyne Price, the late Judge Constance Baker Motley, Judge Robert L. Carter, the late Oliver W. Hill, Sr.Founded in 1909, the NAACP--the nation's oldest, largest and most widely-recognized grassroots–based civil rights organization—is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. September / October 2009
Onyx Awards
“Onyx Speaks” Jumpstarts the Seventh Annual
Meet Dave Collins: The Man behind the Voice
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the show will begin in five minutes.”
You heard him, but you didn’t see him, It was Dave Collins, the Onyx Awards “voice of god”. It was his voice that played that vital role in creating the ambiance for a successful production. Dave has been in the broadcast and voice over industry for more than 25 years.
“ONYXSPEAKS” explores the evolution of Daytona Beach’s native son, Howard Thurman, and his insight against the backdrop of a socially turbulent America. Presented by LBS Foundation Incorporated, “ONYXSPEAKS” is an exploration of Florida’s finest visual art and film genres, and the ingenious trailblazers who created them.
This year, LBS Foudation Incorporated hosted Arleigh Prelow, an independent producer, director, writer and researcher of documentary film and video. Throughout her long-standing career, she has endeavored to produce creative, exquisite, thoughtful, and well-crafted work, which enlightens, engages and inspires its audiences. One of her
current works, “Howard Thurman,” is the first feature-length documentary chronicling Thurman’s spiritual journey, work and profound influence on millions of people across the divides of race, faith, and culture–– including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
As an award winning on-air personality, Dave has created "magic" both behind the microphone and in front of the camera for countless projects and events.all with huge success.
From being named "Air Personality" of the year several years running to hosting the top rated morning show in Orlando, FL. Dave is driven to produce the absolute best product in whatever arena he is placed.
Whether it's creating that special sound for a specific commercial or project, hosting a television or radio program or emceeing a community event, you can be assured that Dave will "bring to life" any venture that is looking for excellence!
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Arleigh Prelow
September / October 2009
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LEFT: LaWanda Drummer, Sandra Dailey, RenĂŠe McLean, Marie Braswell, Linda Berkley, George Oliver 40
Onyx Magazine
September / October 2009
Co-Host
September / October 2009
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Barbara McKinzie, Sheryl Howard
Barbara McKinzie, Dr. Florence Alexander
Mr. and Mrs. Robert “Bob” Lawrence and STANDING: Sheryl Howard of Atlanta
Len and Charlotte Burnett