Adw aug 6 by Atlanta Daily World

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Confederate flag prank at King Center P. 3

Andre’ 3000 in ‘American Crime’ P. 7

Volume 87 • Issue 52

M.L. King Dr. upgrades take the fast track

PATCH Foundation provides school supplies P. 9 August 6-12, 2015

August 6-12, 2015

COVER STORY

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to get extreme makeover

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

olition is now slated for mid-summer of this year, instead of the spring of 2016. The street improvement project also will be moved up to start later in 2015 instead of 2016. Atlanta officials have begun efforts to pitch residents living in the city’s western neighborhoods on more than seven miles of roadside renovations along Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Under the guise of “Martin Luther King Jr. Grand Boulevard Concept,” which begins at Northside Dr. and ends at Fulton Industrial Blvd., city officials sought input that could impact a final plan presented to the Atlanta City Council. At a neighborhood meeting, residents listed the problems that plague the once-proud street, which include:

By Terry Shropshire A few years ago, comedian Chris Rock’s biting wisecrack on the common denominator that weaves through nearly every major city in the country —a Martin Luther King boulevard, drive or street — was met with thunderous applause and hearty (but guilty) laughter. “You know what’s so sad,” Rock began, “Martin Luther King stood for nonviolence. Now what’s ‘Martin Luther King?’ A street. I don’t give a … where you are in America, if you are on Martin Luther King Boulevard, there’s some violence going down. “It aint’ the safest place to be. You can’t call someone and tell them, ‘I’m lost on MLK Drive,” the comedian continued with the joke that wasn’t really a joke.

Rock then says the person on the other end of the line would scream frantically to the lost caller, “Run! Run! RUN!!!” For Rock, a beloved political and cultural humorist, to deliver that famous line was like driving a dull blade through black American’s hearts. What he said was funny, but it was embarrassing to acknowledge the truth of his words. In most cities in America, including the city of Atlanta, the streets named after one of the world’s greatest advocates for nonviolence, are full of violence, decay. They echo impoverishment and pollute their cities with urban blight.

ADW | 2

Even though the Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. is a main artery of the Atlanta, and cuts through or runs alongside several iconic edifices – such as the Georgia state Capitol, the Georgia Dome and the historic Atlanta University Center that includes Morehouse and Spelman College — much of the 12 miles of Martin Luther King Dr. is littered with abandoned buildings, broken down cars, unkempt yards, liquor stores and other symbols of disenfranchisement. In the birthplace and bedrock of the Civil Rights Movement, city leaders acknowledge this wholeheartedly. That’s why Mayor Kasim Reed proclaimed during the annual King Day Ecumenical Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, that he was going to make vast improvements to the street. “We need to make Martin Luther King Jr. Drive one of the most attractive streets in America,” Reed said. “We all travel a good bit. If you want to go to a bad neighborhood, ask where M.L. King Jr. Drive is. I mean, almost every city that has an M.L. King Jr. Drive is challenged. And I think that we owe it to Atlanta to make sure that the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in our city is best in class.” In showing off the 16-page planning document and the renderings that flanked the mayor at his latest press conference, Reed revealed plans that are already making community rounds for neighborhood approval. They include new bike lanes, waterfalls, and green median space in the middle of the boulevard. In the post-civil rights era, Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. has been pummeled with vandalism, gross neglect, illegal dumping and graffiti. Reed and city leaders want to make MLK safer, more desirable and friendlier to pedestrians. Those efforts include adding a shared use pedestrian bicycle path. Dem-

• Speeding cars • Narrow sidewalks that draw strangers too close together, especially at night • Many places alongside the MLK corridor have no sidewalks at all • Dangerous crossings, particularly at Fairburn Rd. where residents say they “will do anything bot to cross there,” “We talk about beautification, but yet the homeowners might need assistance to do some exterior beautification for their homes,” explained an MLK area homeowner. The Atlanta City Council has approved the MLK Jr. Dr. plan, but then again, how could anyone say no? According to Councilman Kwanza Hall, the MLK corridor cuts through the districts of four council persons, so it is in their mutual best interest to support the facelift and beautification of MLK Dr. After easily garnering city leader and resident support, short-term projects like center medians and landscaping could reportedly be completed by the year 2017. Other more complex or comprehensive projects, such as streetlights, bicycle lanes, and planted medians would require closer to five years to finish, according to city officials. But according to city leaders like C.T. Martin, the move to beautify MLK Drive couldn’t begin too soon.

Atlanta Daily World

Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932 W.A. Scott, II, Founder/Publisher August 5, 1928 to February 7, 1934 Published weekly at 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta Mailing Offices. Publication Number 017255 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlanta Daily World, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Subscriptions: One Year: $52 Two Years: $85 Forms of Payment: Check, Money Order, VISA American Express, MasterCard MEMBER: Associated Press Atlanta Business League Central Atlanta Progress Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce National Newspaper Publishers Website: www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com Lorraine Cochran General Manager lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

Roz Edward

Managing Editor / redward@realtimesmedia

Terry Shropshire

Web Editor tshropshire@realtimesmedia

Juan Sifuentes

Graphic Designer jsifuentes@realtimesmedia.com

Atlanta Daily World is powered by Real Times Media The Atlanta Daily World is not responsible for unsolicited photos, manuscripts, etc., unless return is requested with postage. Address all correspondence to and make checks payable to Atlanta Daily World, rather than to individuals.

NEWS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Fayette County voters get district-based voting

Ruling Represents a Step Forward for Black Voters’ Rights in Fayette County, Georgia On Monday, Aug. 3, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted a request filed by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. and cooperating Georgia attorney, Neil Bradley, to have district-based voting as the voting method for the upcoming special election for the successor of late Fayette County Commissioner, Pota Coston. The discriminatory method of at-large voting was argued for by the County. At a hearing on July 30, Assistant Counsel Leah Aden argued that the County should be prevented from using the at-

large method of voting during the upcoming special election because it will impermissibly dilute the voting power of Black voters in Fayette in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary of being signed into law on August 6. LDF asked the federal court to require the County to conduct the special election using a district-based method of voting that would allow Black voters to have the equal opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice. In November 2014, Ms. Coston was elected as the first-ever Black woman to the County Commission under a district-based method of election ordered by the federal court. “This voting rights case shows that local elections are best served when communities can elect those who represent them and their interests,” says Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF president and Director-Counsel. “Much is at stake and preserving this progress for the residents of Fayette County is critical to upholding the ideals of and aspirations of our democratic institutions.” Despite the progress made, Fayette County has continued to defend its racially discriminatory method of election and to impose on Fayette taxpayers the costs (so far estimated to exceed at least $1.5 million) of that defense. “When the voting structure changed in Fayette County to district-based elections, Black voters won their right to elect a representative of their choice to serve them on important local bodies in Fayette County,” says LDF Assistant Counsel Leah Aden. “Today’s decision is another step forward in vindicating the fundamental right to vote of Black voters in Fayette County.”

Confederate Flags placed at King Center, Ebenezer Baptist Church By Terry Shropshire Perhaps in defiance of nationwide efforts to remove the Confederate battle flag from government institutions, racist vandals tried to deface the historic church near the Martin Luther King Jr. Center where the Civil Rights icon and his father once preached. Federal authorities are investigating why vandals placed four Confederate battle flags were found on the grounds of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, just a short walk from where MLK grew up. According to Yahoo.com, a maintenance worker discovered the flags at approximately 6 a.m. Thursday and notified officers at the National Park Service, which operates The King Center. “Our grounds men were so upset, they took pictures and then they moved them,” Rev Shannon Jones of Ebenezer told the AP. Park Service officers discouraged that move, saying the Confederate battle flag placement is evidence.

Atlanta Daily World

Confederate flags sit in the back of a police car as an Atlanta police officer and U.S. Park Ranger stand by outside Ebenezer Baptist Church Even though there were no witnesses to the crime, authorities hope the video camera at the church will help federal and local police identify the assailant and any accomplices. A conference on the role on black churches in social justice issues has

been going on in Ebenezer’s facilities, Jones said. The King Center complex sits just outside the eastern edge of downtown Atlanta along Auburn Avenue, once the epicenter of bustling black businesses and civil rights activities.

Publishes Every Thursday

August 6-12, 2015

Thousands march miles on journey for justice

By Curtis Bunn Urban News Service The movement that began in a bungalow is traveling nearly 900 miles to the home of Dr. King’s “Dream.” A coalition of organizations, led by the NAACP, embarked Saturday, Aug.1 on an 860-mile, 40-day, 40-night march from Selma, Alabama to Washington, D.C. This initiative recalls the original march some 50 years ago. Activists will caravan through Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and conclude Sept. 16 in Washington. “Why march?” NAACP president Cornell William Brooks asked. “We march because our lives matter, our votes matter, our jobs matter, our schools matter.” The organizers of America’s Journey for Justice stress four issues: the vitality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, criminal-justice reform, job growth and higher wages, and better public education. “This march is not merely about putting boots on the ground,” Brooks said, “It’s about putting laws on the books. . . This has been a history-laden year, with the anniversaries of the Voting Rights Act, ‘Bloody Sunday’ and so forth. But it’s a good opportunity to make history, too.” “I’m looking forward to marching,” said Damon Younger, 32. The Atlantan plans to join the group when it reaches Georgia’s capital on August 10. After four days of ’ ‘teach-ins’ on legislation, health, education, and criminal justice, Younger expects to march north. “I’m inspired,” Younger said. “Obviously, I wasn’t born when they marched for our rights in the ’60s. To have a chance to do that now, with all that is going on in the United States, I have to take the time off from work to go. And I go with pride and hope for change.” As the marchers head north, satellite events across America will echo their voices. These activities will share the social media hash tag #JusticeSummer. The campaign concludes with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, site of Dr. King’s legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. “We’ve seen more civil rights challenges in the last year than in decades,” Brooks added. “That’s why we believe we have to inundate the halls of Congress. Across the country, people have been asking, ‘Why is this happening?’ The problem is that the people asking the questions are not in the room with the people who can do something to change it. We intend to change that.”

3 | ADW

August 6-12, 2015

BUSINESS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Antitrust lawsuit over ATM fees revived by appeals court By Britta Lee A lawsuit accusing major banks of illegally fixing ATM prices at the expense of consumers has been revived by a federal court of appeals. The Washington court recently ruled that a group of consumers and independent ATM operators could pursue antitrust claims against Mastercard, Visa, and three other major banks. The lawsuit had previously been thrown out in 2013 by a federal district judge. This decision had been made after the plaintiffs failed to show any conspiracy to overcharge consumers. Challengers will now argue that the payment processors coordinated with Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. to adopt anticompetitive fees. The current lawsuit accuses companies of imposing contract terms to prevent indepen-

dent ATM operators from charging less when consumers use debit cards that can tap cheaper processing networks.

Atlanta Daily World

Lisa Price talks cost of building Carol’s Daughter

Building your own business is no easy task. And, few people know that better than Lisa Price. She is the brainchild behind the hair and beauty company, Carol’s Daughter. Price started her career as a Production Coordinator in the television industry living in New York. Yet, one of her fondest hobbies-creating homemade facial and body products in her kitchen — soon became a side hustle, growing in demand out of her home in Bedford Stuyvesant. Carol’s Daughter, gradually became the unique ‘go to’ beauty brand, bringing an organic and natural brand of products whose initial target started with an African American base growing beyond its core group. “I started blending fragrances and making lotions and creams on my stove as a hobby for

ADW | 4

years in the 1980’s. I would just make things and give them to friends and family as gifts. In 1993, my mom said, ‘Why don’t you sell this at the church flea market?’. That was the beginning of me making things and selling it,” Price said. She continued to maintain her job in television production and credits it for her discipline and hard work in transitioning full time for her own company. For a number of years, Price worked out of her own kitchen, creating products for the Carol’s Daughter brand. She eventually moved from her kitchen to a Brooklyn warehouse and then began to outsource to manufacturers. As the demand for Price’s products grew, she devoted more time and set up shop through a network of churches, flea markets and beauty industry expos creating a grassroots buzz. It wasn’t until loyal overseas customers began contacting her that she realized the impact of her brand. Today, Carol’s Daughter is an empire that has warranted the support of notable investors such as Jada Pinkett, Will Smith, and Jay Z. Despite Carol’s Daughter’s initial success, the company filed for bankruptcy in early 2014. The business ended up having to close five retail stores to financially restructure. Since last September, the company’s net sales generated a reported $27 million. It recently struck a deal with L’Oreal USA to be able to continue operation. Carol’s Daughter continues to grow in its distribution with Walgreens, and will launch a new campaign in August. Price says it’s been a great learning curve building her company but one that she doesn’t regret, knowing what she knows now. To read this article in its entirety, visit atlantadailyworld.com

Get Connected, Stay Informed ADWnews.com

Facebook.com/ADWnews Follow us @ADWnews

COMMUNITY

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Kennesaw State names first VP for Economic Development and Community Engagement Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp has named Charles Ross, director of Startup Networks for the Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Tech, as Kennesaw State’s first vice president for economic development and community engagement. Ross will assume the role on July 1. The new cabinet-level officer position at Kennesaw State was added to bring leadership to the University’s economic development and community engagement efforts, and will bring coordination and synergy to several other related areas of operation within the University as well. The position will report directly to President Papp. “Charles will be a valuable asset to the cabinet, and he will provide indispensable exper- Charles Ross tise in working with business and industry,” said Papp. “His keen grasp of community engagement, and the opportunities that such engagement presents, will help the University leverage our relationships, create more job opportunities for our students, and significantly enhance our public service mission.” Ross brings a wealth of academic and industry experience to Kennesaw State. He joined Georgia Tech in 2005 as a venture catalyst in the Advanced Technology Development Center, and became general manager and director of Entrepreneurship Services at the Center in 2008, before assuming his position as director of Startup Networks in the Enterprise Innovation Institute in 2009. He also worked in strategic investments, con-

sulting and business development for more than 20 years in Chicago and Washington, D.C., for companies such as Ameritech Development and General Electric Medical Systems. At Kennesaw State, Ross will serve as the University’s chief officer focused on deploying resources to aid economic development and expand relationships with off-campus communities. Ross will work closely with the senior vice provost to generate new opportunities for the University’s research centers and institutes. Ross also will oversee and manage Kennesaw State’s Office of Community Engagement and the Office of Government Relations. He will chair the KSU Economic Development Task Force and serve as the University’s chief liaison to the Cobb County Chamber’s Competitive EDGE Project. Ross was selected among a pool of more than 100 candidates who vied for the position in a national search chaired by Ken Harmon, Kennesaw State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. Ross also currently serves as director for the Center for Working Families, director for the National Business Incubation Association and advisor for Neighborhood Nexus. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University and an MBA from Indiana University.

August 6-12, 2015

Local entrepreneur program kicks off

By Britta Lee Are you thinking about starting a business? It isn’t an easy process but with the right tools, you can become a successful entrepreneur. But, for many people, the hardest question is ‘where do I start?’ If you are stumped as to how to begin the road to entrepreneurship, one course soon to kick off might help. The ‘I’ve Decided to Start My Own Business, What Do I Do Next?’ course begins on Sunday, August 9 and runs for eight weeks. Its mission is to educate prospective business owners on topics that ensure SUCCESS is the only option. Participants will hopefully open their eyes to knowledge on the ‘why’s’ of building a business plan and strategies. The goal is to ultimately teach individuals how to build a more sustainable, well ran business. Those who sign up can choose a day and time that best suits their schedule. Most dates are eight weeks long with the exception of Saturday classes that last one day-all day. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit EventBrite.com.

Feed the Children gives back to Atlanta

Positive American Youth, Pepsico, and Feed the Children held a community outreach event called Feeding Atlanta today, July 30 off of Donald Lee Holowell Pkwy in Atlanta, Ga. During this event, Positive American Youth and Feed the Children served over 800 families by providing household essentials. Sponsors for the event were Hot 107.9, PepsiCo, Frito Lay, Wal Mart, and Georgia Pacific. The families were provided boxes on site to take back home with them. A few of the items that were handed out were bags of chips, toilet paper, soda, and other household items.

Atlanta City Councilman, Kwanza Hall was in attendance for the event as well. “We can never put a number on what we expect, but it’s definitely a heartwarming number to see all of these cars lined up and people walking up and having 3 parking lots filled, it really is a beautiful thing” said REEC, spokesman for Positive American Youth and on air talent on Hot 107.9FM (when asked about what he thought about the turn out). To learn more about Positive American Youth (PayUSA) visit their website at www. payusa.org or by phone at 770-726-0320.

5 | ADW

August 6-12, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

A Jill Scott journey

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Atlanta’s MAKO Girls prep for summer tour create one epic sound. Kena (15), Mimi (14), and A-Ni (11), are sisters that took their love for singing, dancing and entertaining to a professional level. As they put it, “We are everyday girls who want to show the world [that] in order to succeed, you have to believe in yourself and never give up”. Kena is everything punk rock from the clothes to the music she listens to. Mimi is the girly-girl that loves all things that bling and A-Ni is the perfect mixture of pop and hip-hop, with an amazing voice. With West Indian background, MAKO Girls have an authentic love for music that is meant to move you. This H.I.T. (hardworking, intelligent, talented) trio has the passion and drive that will help them achieve their goal of world tours and packed arenas. They make music that is fun and family friendly, and their growing fan base has surpassed the girls in their schools.

By Steve Holsey In a time when individuality in the music industry is not generally encouraged, singer-songwriter Jill Scott clearly stands apart and is, in fact, a breath of fresh air. Her albums, featuring songs with unique concepts and lyrics, take listeners to all kinds of places, many of them unexpected. The just-released “Woman” carries on that Jill Scott tradition. It would be difficult to not be captivated by, for example, the exuberance of “Coming to You,” the cleverness of “Run Run Run,” the raw passion of “You Don’t Know,” the catchiness of “Prepared,” the beauty of the strangely titled “Jahraymecofasola.” And then there is “Closure,” one of wittiest — and funniest — songs ever recorded. Scott says to a man she’s putting out, “Don’t be expecting no breakfast, baby. You got all you gon’ get.” Then she “goes menu” on him: “Look homie, there will be no more homemade waffles, okay? With the fresh strawberries, you know, the ones I put agave on. There will be more quiche and no more sausages, and don’t even think about my pepper jack grits or my grandma’s buttermilk biscuits.”

This summer, the Atlanta girl group MAKO Girls’ schedule has been filled with performances, events, and interviews. From signing posters to receiving social media love from fans, the girls are gearing up for an event filled summer. Recent performances include: DBS Sounds Record Store Day, Atlanta’s Got Talent, and Windebrooke’s Spring Carnival. Along with appearances at Jabreya’s Sweet 16, ATL’s Lunch & Learn, and invited to host the Anti-Bully Skate-A-Thon. With a promising future, the girls are prepping for a NYC Summer Promo Tour and a few appearances in the Bahamas. In a recent Phone Press Day, the girls spoke about the experiences of traveling for shows and meeting fans abroad. The MAKO Girls are an Atlanta based pop/R&B group that brings different styles to

Us! Publishes Every Thursday ADW | 6

facebook: atlanta daily world Atlanta Daily World @ADWnews

ENTERTAINMENT

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

August 6-12, 2015

André 3000 co-stars in Season 2 of ‘American Crime’ By bjosephsny “American Crime” had the not so enviable job of replacing “How to Get Away With Murder” at that 10 p.m. Thursday slot. John Ridley’s drama wasn’t as talked about as the show it replaced, but it did perform well enough to earn a second season. And Ridley is cool enough with Andre 3000 to get him to co-star on “American Crime‘s” second season. André 3000, who worked with Ridley in the Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is By My Side, will play an architect named Michael Lacroix. He’s well-respected and smart, but is he smart enough to defend his son from the crime he’s accused of? Ridley is more excited about his partnership with André than Lacroix probably will be about the situation he’s faced with. “Personally, I couldn’t be more excited than to work again with André,” Ridley said in a statement. “He is an amazing individual, a true artist, and ‘All Is by My Side’ is one of the reasons I was given the reins on “American Crime.” Folks at ABC were absolutely moved by Andre’s performance in the film, and by the overall language of cinema we used in telling the story. It’s fair to say “American Crime” might not exist

were it not for our previous collaboration.” “American Crime” is nominated for a whopping 10 Emmy awards, so the great André 3000 might have his shot at one, too, if he delivers in his starring role. Regina King, a recurring star in season one, will return as Andre’s wife.

Will Smith lashes out at divorce rumors By Terry Shropshire It seems that mainstream media has a vested interest in plying Will Smith and his wife of 17 years, Jada Pinkett, apart. Hollywood heavyweight Will Smith issues a plea for the various entertainment blogs that are seemingly hell bent on the breakup of his marriage — to leave them alone. Smith (Independence Day, Men in Black, Legend) directly refuted a recent report in RadarOnline.com report that he and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, were secretly in the process of ending their union. “For Will and Jada, holding it together these past few years has been tough because their marriage has been on life support for a long time,” a source told Radar in the initial report. “They’re exhausted from trying to maintain the façade of a happy union.” Smith, however, countered his long standing personal policy of addressing rumors, and made the rare

move of addressing the false report directly a day later. “Under normal circumstances, I don’t usually respond to foolishness … because it’s contagious,” he wrote. “But, so many people have extended to me their ‘deepest condolences’ that I figured — ‘What the hell... I can be foolish, too!’ “So, in the interest of redundant, repetitious, overand-over-again-ness ... Jada and I are not getting a divorce! “I promise you all — if I ever decide to divorce my Queen — I swear I’ll tell you myself!” The 46-year-old Smith, who is filming the super villain flick, Suicide Squad, and his 43-year-old wife, have been a fixture in the gossip glossies for the past four years amid reports of marital strife. In addition to a net worth estimated at $240 million, the couple has two children, son Jaden, 17, and daughter Willow, 14. Smith also has an adult son from a previous marriage.

7 | ADW

FAITH

August 6-12, 2015

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Local Atlanta church hosts second in ‘Know Your Rights’ workshop series On Saturday, Aug. 15 at 5 p.m., the Atlanta Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church will host the second part in a series of “Know Your Rights” events designed to empower the community with information about their legal rights, and how to survive encounters with law enforcement. A panel of experts will discuss what to expect, preventative measures, and answer questions regarding interactions with the police and legal system. Among those who will participate are Ebony Phillips, Assistant District Attorney Dekalb County; Major Tim Quiller of the Atlanta Police Department; Attorney Thomas S. Robinson; Fulton County Chairman John Eaves, Union City Mayor Vincent Williams, Dr. Terry Parks, and R. Joy Walker, former Dekalb County Recorder’s Court judge. Voter registration will be conducted by Community Activist Allyson Dozier. Also, scheduled to appear is special invited guest, Genarlow Wilson, a Morehouse College graduate, whose previous 10-year sentence for consensual teenage sex was overturned by a Georgia state appeals court. This event is open and free to the public. Attorney Isaiah Delemar, event organizer, explains “The aim is to save lives by educating our community, with an emphasis on young men. We must learn to respect authority, be

politically engaged, learn our constitutional rights and how to make allies of law enforcement as opposed to seeing them as enemies.” As police departments do not report the data regarding deaths of civilians at the hands of their officers, there is no data on the number of Black men and women killed by law enforcement. However, a 2013 study by the Sentencing Project, which explored racial disparities in the U.S. Criminal Justice System, found that African-American men are more likely to be arrested than their white counterparts, and six times more likely to be incarcerated than white males. Based on this trend, it is increasingly likely that 1 in 3 African-American males will go to jail in their lifetime – a rate of more than 5 times that of White males in the United States. This increased likelihood of encounters by Black males - and females - with the police creates greater opportunities for this interaction to go awry, i.e. in the instances of Mike Brown (Ferguson, MO), Eric Garner (Staten Island, NY), and Sandra Bland (Waller County, TX). The “Know Your Rights” forum aims to equip minority males within the community with the know-how to conduct ones self lawfully and safely during these encounters.

Bobbi Kristina Brown’s funeral filled with family and spirit

Does the Bible have authority over the Constitution? During last Sunday’s NBC ‘Meet the Press’, Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson got hit with a ‘gotcha’ question. The retired neurosurgeon, however, didn’t fall for the bait. Host Chuck Todd asked Carson the question, explaining that according to a recent Facebook poster named Victor Roush, it is a “simple question”. Carson responded by explaining that the question is not “simple” by any stretch of the imagination. “I think probably what you have to do is ask a very specific question about a specific passage of the Bible and a specific portion of the Constitution,” Carson added. “I don’t think you can answer that question other than out of very specific contexts.” Todd responded to Carson by saying, “We’ll see if Mr. Roush liked that answer or not.” The question touches on a heated debate over separation of church and state, and to what extent religion should influence governmental affairs. Voters will ultimately let Carson know what they feel about his response and overall candidacy when they vote in late 2016.

APS cheating Page 3 Powered by Real

Times Media

om www.AtlantaDailyWorld.c

36 Volume 87 • Issue

scandal

Tyler the Creator’s ‘Cherrybomb’ Page 8

of UNCF’s ‘Evening Stars’ Page 9 April 16-22, 2015

UchNaeCl LoFma’sx

Power ed by Real

Volum

Times

e 87 • Issue

Media www.A tlantaD

ailyWo

Radio le gend

re for

HBCUs

takes to for HBC the seas Us

ADW | 8

Legislation for failing schools Page 3

Times Media

John Lewis 87 • Issue 41 gets chairVolume at Emor y Page 9 University April 23-29

Despite a bit of drama, the funeral of Bobbi Kristina Brown was filled with family, music and spirituality. According to sources about 250 to 300 guests attended the service, which took place on Saturday Aug. 1 at the St. James United Methodist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. Among those on hand for the funeral were Bobbi Kristina’s uncle Tommy Brown and aunt Pat Houston, who sat near her father Bobby Brown. An emotional tribute was given to Bobbi Kristina by her two best friends as well as Bobby Brown, who stood at the end of the service with his hand resting on the closed casket. ET notes that the casket was draped in pink, white and red flowers. Musically, Bobbi Kristina’s funeral included her grandmother Cissy Houston bringing the crowd to their feet during the service with a performance of “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” singer Monica’s rendition of “I Love the Lord” and CeCe Winans singing “His Strength Is Perfect.” In addition to the music, the Rev. Dr. Toni Luck reflected on baptizing Bobbi Kristina in the River Jordan and voiced how thankful everyone was for Tyler Perry, who helped plan the memorial and has been involved in matters pertaining to the 22-year-old since she was hospitalized after nearly drowning in a bathtub at her home in January. The entertainment mogul joined the list of people who spoke at the funeral mentioning that he felt it necessary to look after Bobbi Kristina after her mother Whitney Houston’s death in February 2012. Bobbi Kristina died on July 26. Perry’s presence at the service was also felt as he helped diffuse a bit of family drama by removing Bobbi Kristina’s aunt

Leolah Brown after she interrupted planned remarks from Pat Houston. While the outburst shook things up, overall, the Brown and Houston families seemed to get along during the service. However, the families left the church via separate aisles. Whitney Houston was heard at the end of the service as the late singer’s version of “Jesus Loves Me” played during the recessional. Houston’s hit song, “I Will Always Love You” was referenced in a full page in the program for the service that featured a smiling picture of Bobbi Kristina, with the caption “I also will always love you. Love, Daddy.” While family and friends turned out for Bobbi Kristina’s funeral, one person who was not present was her boyfriend Nick Gordon, who sent an email to Bobby Brown and Pat Houston, pleading to attend the memorial.

Praise News Thursday Politics Business Education Atlanta Memorial Events

Ryan Kilgo re relea debut ses album Page 8

, 2015

sees bright futu

uelyn Martin/Fil (AP Photo/Jacq

rld.com

by Qwest7

.com www.AtlantaDailyWorld

Page 7

Day

‘L&HHA’ cast or else

Page 8

warned …

May DeKalb CEO probe responds to

Page 11

May 21-27, 2015

Entertainment Publishes Every

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

EDUCATION

Sheltering Arms Family Center receives Scholastic donation

Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center in Atlanta, Georgia has received 300 board books for children ages 0-3 from Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company. The donation of new, high-quality children’s books is in response to President Barack Obama’s call for business leaders, philanthropists, advocates, elected officials and members of the public to invest in the expansion of early childhood opportunities for children across the country as part of the “Invest In US” campaign. Approximately 300 early childhood centers across the country will receive an estimated 90,000 books from The Scholastic Possible Fund. Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center of Atlanta was selected to receive a library due to its recent Early Head Start Partnership grant award in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning from the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Administration for Children and Families. In addition to receiving this grant, Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center of Atlanta has also been featured in a video with Scholastic which focuses on the importance of early childhood education. In the video, parents of children at the center, Blythe Keeler Robinson, President and CEO of

Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers, and Greg Worrell, President of Scholastic Education share the critical importance of having quality education programs and reading materials available for our youngest learners. “Sheltering Arms children continually meet and exceed developmental milestones in language and literacy. We want our children to start kindergarten ready to learn; therefore access to books and other reading material is critical. We are realizing our goals thanks to the support of organizations like Scholastic,” said Blythe Keeler Robinson, president and CEO of Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers. “Our commitment is to helping children develop a love of learning that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.” The first five years in a child’s life — when 90 percent of brain development occurs—represents a window of opportunity to develop a child’s full potential and shape key academic, social and cognitive skills. Through this book donation, children of Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center will have increased access to quality texts that will support academic growth in these earliest years. Research shows, children with access to robust libraries have a higher educational attainment than those without the same access.

August 6-12, 2015

PATCH Foundation provides school supplies to Bethune Elementary School On Saturday, Aug.1, local members of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 77 packed and delivered school supplies to Atlanta Public Schools students at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School. The supplies are a gift from the Painters and Allied Trades for Children’s Hope Foundation. IUPAT volunteers joined school staff members to assemble over 500 book bags filled with pencils, paper, notebooks and the many other materials students require for a successful school year. PATCH was founded by the IUPAT nearly 15 years ago to support programs and organizations that provide children with education, medical care and a better life through youth sports. The foundation raises funds through local efforts by IUPAT members throughout the United States. “It is always a great pleasure to be able to give back to the local communities where our members live and work,” said Chuck Hill, business manager/secretary-treasurer of IUPAT District Council 77 in Atlanta. “This gift to Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary in particular has been a humbling and rewarding experience, and the PATCH Foundation

and the members of the IUPAT are proud to do our part for these Atlanta students.” “We are forever grateful to the IUPAT and the PATCH Foundation for their extremely generous contribution of more than 500 book bags filled with school supplies,” said Bethune Elementary Principal Amia Burnette. “I hope to continue our relationship with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades – our students and parents will be so thrilled to receive these bags on the first day of school.” The PATCH Foundation is also providing school supplies for students in Phoenix and Houston this month as well.

Our Lifestyles. Our Opinions. Our News. 9 | ADW

CLASSIFIEDS

August 6-12, 2015

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD – Pick Up Locations Citizen Trust Bank - 965 Martin L King Dr Atlanta Library - 1116 Martin L King Dr Shell Service Station - 1720 Martin L King Dr M L K Coin Laundry - 2860 Martin L King Dr African Braid - 3050 Martin L King Dr Adamville Rec Center - 3201 Martin L King Dr Adamville Library - 3424 Martin L King Dr Shummy - 3550 Martin L King Dr Linda’s Cleaners - 3565 Martin L King Dr Yasin - 3641 Martin L King Dr Washington Park - 101 Ollie Street Washington Tennis Center - 102 Ollie Street 100 Black Men of Atlanta - 241 Peachtree Street Kanley Restaurant - 75 Piedmont Road Citizen Trust Bank - 75 Piedmont Road Post Office - 576 Piedmont Road PUBLIX - 595 Piedmont Road Playmaker Barber - 270 Ponce De Leon Eats - 600 Ponce De Leon Borders - 650 Ponce De Leon Kroger - 725 Ponce De Leon Dugus - 777 Ponce De Leon PUBLIX - 1007 Ponce De Leon Merkerson’s Fish Market - 740 Ralph D Albernathy Blvd SW Scott Library - 1917 Candler Road CVS - 2458 Candler Road Gene Package - 2538 Candler Road Gene Laundrymat - 2538 Candler Road Big Men Package - 2594 Candler Road Kelly Express - 2701 Candler Road Dramatic Design - 2701 Candler Road Music Media - 2701 Candler Road Amber Bristo - 3910 Flat Shoel Parkway Master Barber - 3910 Flat Shoel Parkway Dollar Insurance - 3806 Flat Shoel Parkway T Nails - 3665 Flat Shoel Parkway Kroger - 2875 N Decatur Road PUBLIX - 2155 N Decatur Road Kroger - 3108 Briar Hill Road Post Office - 3104 Briar Hill Road Up Sweep Beauty Salon - 3649 Flakes Mills Road PUBLIX - 3655 Flakes Mills Road Mo Better Restaurant - 3927 Flat Shoals Parkway Barber Shop - 3929 Flat Shoals Parkway PUBLIX - 3870 N Druid Hills Road Helen S. Mills Multi Purpose Facility - 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. SE Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Auburn Avenue Library - 101 Auburn Avenue The Apex Museum - 135 Auburn Avenue Silver Moon Barber - 202 Auburn Avenue Sweet Auburn Grocery - 210 Auburn Avenue Rib Shack - 302 Auburn Avenue SCLC - 328 Auburn Avenue Auburn Cleaners - 388 Auburn Avenue McGhee Tennis Center - 820 Beecher Street Big Daddy - 3085 Campbellton Avenue Nail Spot - 589 Cascade Road Kroger - 590 Cascade Road Stylistic Hair Salon - 590 Cascade Road Shear Barber Shop - 590 Cascade Road Cascade Nail - 590 Cascade Road Spark Unisex - 591 Cascade Road Ethnic Braid - 593 Cascade Road China Cafereria - 609 Cascade Road Cascade Grill - 1053 Cascade Road CVS - 2237 Cascade Road Big Daddy - 2284 Cascade Road Frills Hair Salon - 2290 Cascade Road Dream Wings - 2292 Cascade Road Louisana Seafood - 2298 Cascade Road Health Essential - 2329 Cascade Road Hans Express - 2345 Cascade Road J R Cricket - 2348 Cascade Road Kroger - 3425 Cascade Road Papa John’s - 3425 Cascade Road Atlanta Fulton Library - 3665 Cascade Road PUBLIX - 3695 Cascade Road Pak Mail Center - 3695 Cascade Road Tire Plus - 3735 Cascade Road Kaiser Permante - 1175 Cascade Parkway Dixie News - 13 Decatur Street Chanterelles - 646 Evans Street Baltimore Crab - 1075 Fairburn Road Trends Barber Shop - 1075 Fairburn Road LT’S - 1270 Fairburn Road Mr Abdullai - 2377 Fairburn Road Ben Hill Rec Center - 2405 Fairburn Road The Barber Shop - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy The Herb Shop - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Le Nails - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Salon Culture - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Medu Book Store 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Citgo Service Station - 2995 Headline Drive Master Beauty Supply - 3031 Headline Driver Mr Everything - 870 Martin L King Dr

Subscribe for 2 Years and Save!

How to place a Classified Ad

RATES: Mail Subscription Rates (Check one) 1 Year for $52 2 Years for $85

ONLINE: www.atlantadailyworld.com

Credit Card#:

MAIL: ATLANTA DAILY WORLD 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, GA 30354

Name:

EMAIL: lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

PAYMENT: Check, Money Order, American Express, MasterCard or VISA

Address: City:

TELEPHONE: 678-515-2053 State:

Zip:

PAYMENT: Cash, check, or credit card

Phone:

DEADLINE: Every Tuesday, 12:00 pm (noon)

Email:

RATES: Open Classified Advertising Rates $25.00 for four lines . Additional lines $5.50 each. A line consist of 26 characters including spaces and punctuation. All rates listed above apply to line ads.

CLIP AND MAIL: ATLANTA DAILY WORLD 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354

DISPLAY ADS: Contact 678-515-2053 or lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

It pays to advertise in the Atlanta Daily World.

Contact ADW sales representative at

678-515-2053 or lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

Advertisers the ADW Advertising Department Now Accepts Credit Cards for Ad Payments We Accept...

Advertise Services Our Readers Need in the ADW Classifides! Handyman Contractors Cleaning Services Electricians

Plumbers Roofers and More!

Call 678-515-2053 or email lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

ADW | 10

VIEWPOINTS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

August 6-12, 2015

GUEST COMMENTARY

by Kevin P. Chavous

by Julianne Malveaux

A Good education by any means necessary When Mical attended kindergarten in Milwaukee’s inner city, he spent the majority of time being kicked out of class for behavioral issues and violent outbursts. His great-aunt and legal guardian, Martha Presley said she was worried sick about her six-year-old nephew. At such a young age, he seemed destined for failure and even worse, prison some day. “He would go to school on Monday and get suspended, and then he would go to school on Wednesday and get suspended again,” Presley told Urban News Service. By second grade, he couldn’t even read. Presley had taken custody of Mical after his grandmother passed away. His grandmother was all he had. Mical’s father was never in the picture, and his mother had relinquished custody because she wasn’t capable of properly caring for him. “There were domestic violence issues, numerous times when she couldn’t feed him, and they moved from house to house,” Presley said. She said she was overwhelmed and at her wits end. She kept switching Mical’s school, but trouble always found him. He hated school and wasn’t learning anything. While families like Presley and Mical live in the daily, inner-city life struggle, federal lawmakers have been debating the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), an act that determines how and under what guidelines the federal government can help fund America’s schools. The last reauthorization of ESEA occurred in 2002 under former President George Bush and was called No Child Left Behind. During the most recent reauthorization debates, various members of Congress have offered an array of proposals and amendments relating to ESEA, such as creating a clear definition of the concept of “bullying.” However, none of these suggestions would help parents and guardians, like Presley, who are desperate to find high-quality educational alternatives for their at-risk kids forced to go to schools where they just aren’t performing well, whatever the reason may be. Congress has the luxury of debating ideas that don’t work for real people - a luxury Martha Presley and others like her do not have. Each passing day, each passing week, each passing year, Mical’s future was becoming bleaker and bleaker. Fortunately for Presley and Mical, Milwaukee offers school choice options for them beyond the designated neighborhood school. One of those options is the Milwaukee Parental Choice program. This scholarship opportunity was created in 1990 and is the first voucher program in the nation. The program offers scholarships for low-income students to attend one of the participating private schools - at no cost to the student’s family. It began 25 years ago with 300 students and has now grown to 27,000 kids. “I heard all about that scholarship program and said we’ve tried everything else, let’s give this

a try,” Pressley said. Mical became a scholarship recipient, and she was able to enroll him in Milwaukee’s HOPE Christian School. Life changed for the better from that day on. “I sent him there, and they worked with him,” Presley tearfully remembers Mical’s first days at HOPE. “He wasn’t getting sent home anymore. Mical had to buckle down and work hard with his teachers to get caught up, but now his favorite subject is reading.” “I pay attention, I listen to my teachers, and I don’t get suspended anymore,” Mical proudly said. “I read, I’m really good at reading!” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Congress continues to debate ESEA, and no one knows for sure what the final bill will look like. Since its passage in 2002, the debate around ESEA has become a political cesspool. Some Democrats seem dead set on making sure that relaxing the Department of Education’s involvement in punishing state systems for failing to meet standards curtailing the use of standardized testing in evaluating whether a school is “good” or “bad.” On the other side of the aisle, some Republicans want to completely remove the federal government from the process by eliminating the “Common Core” standards altogether and reducing the Department of Education’s ability to punish failing schools. Keep in mind that each side needs to be able to claim some legislative victory when the bill ultimately passes, often times determined by semantics. Maybe, however, as the political posturing over ESEA escalates, lawmakers could benefit from conversations with working class families like Presley’s family. These families are not tied to the political party caucus platforms, legislative wins and losses or grandiose policy proposals that promise change in the far distant future. Nor do they care about how they are viewed by others as they fight to find a good school for their kids. Without the options provided through the Milwaukee Parental Choice program, young Mical would be trapped in a failing school. In reauthorizing ESEA, Congress needs to create an environment where similar school choice options will be made available for other kids as well. For these kids, being on the right school dictates whether they thrive, flourish and develop the love of learning that will serve them for life. As Presley said, “I wanted to know why Mical was suddenly enjoying school, so I started sitting in on his classes and just saw so much love there. They let the kids know that they are important, that they are somebody and that they have the ability to accomplish great things. Mical is now in the third grade and has grown leaps and bounds. I’m really grateful for this school.” While the debate over ESEA continues, let’s hope that the members of Congress grasp the immediate benefit of school choice for families, like Presley‘s, who just want their kids to succeed - by any means necessary. Ken Chavous is a contributing writer for the Urban News Services and Executive Counsel, American Federation for Children.

Lives that matter It ought to be unnecessary for an activist movement to hinge on the principle of the equivalency of life. In the worlds of Democratic presidential candidates (don’t get me started on the Republicans), there is a compelling need to point out that Black Lives Matter and White lives matter. The problem with them stating the obvious is that White lives have always mattered, and institutional racism has structured a lesser value for Black lives. Asserting that Black Lives Matter is to rebut the inherent supposition that Black lives do not matter. Adding the term “White lives matter” attempts to delegitimize a powerful movement. Of course white lives matter. They always have. Black lives have been devalued since the development of our Constitution when it counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person. To proclaim that Black Lives Matter is to rebut this constitutional flaw. We still live with the legacy of enslavement, when Black folks were other people’s property. Black folks aren’t property now (unless they are the much-exploited convict laborers), but unequal treatment is not just historical – it still happens. That’s why the Black Lives Matter movement is so important. The Black Lives Matter movement was a constructive outgrowth of the Trayvon Martin murder, furthered by the protests that happened in the wake of a grand jury’s failure to bring charges against Darren Wilson, the murderer of 18-year-old Michael Brown. As multiracial crowds proclaimed - Black Lives Matter, it seemed that, across the board, people were acknowledging the existence of institutional racism. Too bad Democratic presidential contenders can’t do the same. Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders, the two candidates whose entries into the race may have pushed Hilary Clinton to the left, faced protestors at the progressive Netroots Nation conference earlier this month. Instead of acknowledging the legitimacy of the Black Lives Matter movement, both candidates were prickly. Sanders threatened to leave the stage because the protester’s chants drowned him out. Candidate Hilary Clinton was not present, and some objected to that, but she either missed the opportunity to engage, or was spared embarrassment if she emulated O’Malley and Sanders stance. Both O’Malley and Sanders have scrambled to clean up their acts, backtracking and owning the “mistakes” they’ve made in dealing with the young activists that have taken the lead in protesting police brutality and asserting the importance of Black lives. To clean up their acts, all of the candidates need to listen to leaders of

the Black Lives Matter movement, instead of talking at people the way politicians are most likely to do. If they listen they might hear the frustration that young folks feel when the police stop them for simply walking while Black. They might hear the despair some will share when, even while fully prepared, they find few opportunities for employment, and too many doors slammed in their faces. They might understand that Blacks have a different reality than Whites do, and it shows up in terms of economic, educational, and social indicators. In the wake of Michael Brown’s massacre, Ferguson elected two new Black members for the city council.Now, Andre Anderson, an African American man from Glendale, Arizona has been appointed interim police chief. Ferguson is under pressure to do better. What about the rest of our country? If Michael Brown’s killing was the impetus for Ferguson voters to go to the polls, that’s a good thing. If the Black Lives Matter movement does the same thing nationally, the Democratic nominee has a better chance of winning in November 2016. If the Black Lives Matter movement is not treated respectfully, it is likely that many will stay home. Young voters rushed to the polls in 2008, riveted by candidate Obama’s optimistic “yes we can” mantra. Will they come out for white Democrats, no matter how progressive, who don’t respect their movements and their ideas? The video showing the brutality involved in the vicious arrest of Sandra Bland, the Prairie View A&M alumnae who died in jail earlier this month makes it clear that the Black Lives Matter movement is much needed. Their pressure to stop police brutality has pushed police departments to use video cameras, and made it possible for us to see the repugnant behavior of State Trooper Brian T. Enciniawho roughed a young woman up because she would not put out her cigarette. Don’t tell me that White lives matter. That’s not new information. Whose faces are on our money? Whose statues grace legislative buildings? Who leads the overwhelming majority of Fortune 500 companies? Who dominates our legislative bodies? Our African American president, supposedly the most powerful person in the world, is ill treated by his colleagues often for racial, not political, reasons. We live in a racist and patriarchal society where the value of Black life is too-often diminished. That’s why, Martin O’Malley, there is a special need to assert that Black Lives Matter. Those who would be President ought to embrace that concept, instead of denying it.

11 | ADW

August 6-12, 2015

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Atlanta Daily World for the advertisment results you are looking for.

Contact ADW sales representative at 678-515-2053 or lcochran@realtimesmedia.com ADW | 12