Remembering 2015
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Volume 88 • Issue 21
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Top 5 entertainment bloopers P. 6
District 3 Town Hall meeting
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Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
COVER STORY
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Atlanta’s biggest stories of 2015 #ATL Matters the officers, who claimed Thomas was driving towards him in an effort to run him over and escape, fired the fatal shots through the window of the car. The family claims that, although he was trying to evade arrest, he was not trying to harm any officers. The episode touched off days of protests and demonstrations. In the end, not surprisingly, the mostly white jury cleared the officer of any wrongdoing.
Legendary Congressman John Lewis is visibly emotional as he is honored at the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma Ala. by “Selma” movie director Ava Duvernay and star David Oyelowo. By Terry Shropshire Atlanta Icon John Lewis honored by President Obama at Edmund Pettus Bridge on 50th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Ala.: Legendary Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) was honored by President Obama at the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Ala., the event that altered the course of history and let to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Only 25 years old, Lewis led a throng of black activists over the infamous Edmund Pettus Bridge in a proposed march to the state capital in Montgomery in order to procure their Constitutional right to vote. But state troopers and other thugs at the other end of the bridge blocked the nonviolent marchers and subsequently beat the hundreds of marchers to a pulp. Lewis suffered a fractured skull and was nearly killed during the melee. The momentous occasion was played out in the gripping Academy Award-nominated film Selma. Eleven of 12 Atlanta educators found guilty in the largest teacher’s scandal in American history: Eleven of 12 former educators on trial for the Atlanta Public School cheating scandal were found guilty of racketeering charges and were immediately handcuffed for transport to jails in Fulton County to await sentencing. All faced in excess of 20 years in prison, though the judge had wide discretion in handing down their sentences. Though the educators face a minimum of five years in prison, the judge in the case could sentence them to probation or suspend the sentences altogether. One defendant, Dessa Curb, was cleared of all charges. Also, the so-called mastermind behind arguably the largest public school cheating scandal in U.S. history, former Superintendent Beverly Hall, died from advanced breast cancer not long after the trial started. Bobbi Kristina death: Murder or accident? Grand Jury convenes to decide on filing murder charges against Nick Gordon: A secret Fulton County grand jury convened to determine if possible murder charges or other felony charges will be filed against Nick Gordon in the wake of Bobbi Kristina Brown’s tragic death in suburban Atlanta. Those likely to be called in front of the grand jury are Max Lomas, a drug-dealing friend of Gordon’s and Max’s young girlfriend Danyela Bradley, the insider claimed. Both were in Brown’s Roswell, Ga., townhouse along with Gordon on the morning of Jan. 31 when
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Brown was found face down in a water-filled bathtub. The 22-year-old was placed in a medically induced coma and never regained consciousness. She was pronounced dead six months later on July 26, in an Atlanta area hospice after all medical options had been exhausted and she was taken off life support. Gordon is also facing a $40 million wrongful death lawsuit filed against Gordon by her estate, alleging he routinely abused her and beat her after an all-night “cocaine and drinking binge” in the days leading up to the fateful bathtub incident. Nicholas Thomas’ family called for GBI investigation into shooting death of yet another unarmed black man: One of the defining stories of 2015 in metro Atlanta was the controversial and mysterious rash of police shootings of unarmed black men in throughout the state. One of the most explosive cases came in suburban Atlanta’s Cobb County, where police from three jurisdictions appeared to serve a warrant on Nicholas Thomas, a 25-year-old man who worked at Goodyear in Smyrna. When Thomas saw the officers approaching, Thomas reportedly jumped into a luxury Maserati that he was servicing for a client and tried to escape. One of
Atlanta the No. 1 city for new HIV/AIDS cases: The city of Atlanta, despite its national and international ranking as a progressive city that embraces diversity, has experienced some serious growing pains when it comes to issues such as crime, and most particularly, sexually transmitted diseases. According to a recent report, the Capital of the New South is ranked No. 1 among U.S. cities when it comes to the rate of new HIV cases diagnosed. Moreover, by the time patients are diagnosed in Atlanta, almost one third have advanced to clinical AIDS, which greatly lessons the chances of survival from the disease. Since starting a routine testing program in 2013, the nationally-renowned medical center, Grady Hospital, has diagnosed an average of two to three patients with HIV every single day. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed under fire for ousting fire chief for calling homosexuality ‘vile’ and ‘vulgar’: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed was in the hot seat in 2015 after ousting fire chief Kelvin Cochran for handing out copies of his Christian self-help book that condemns homosexuality as a perversion. In a debate that pits the city’s old guard religious conservatives against religious liberals, Reed fired Cochran over the distribution of his 2013 Christian book, Who Told You That You Are Naked? which condemns homosexual acts as “vile, vulgar, and inappropriate.” Metro Atlanta CEO Lee May asked to resign amid ‘appalling corruption’ in DeKalb County: In the most shocking twists of ironies, the very investigative body that interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May paid to uncover and root out chronic criminality in the county, ultimately demanded that May himself resign because he was at the head of “appalling” levels of “corruption” throughout the east suburban Atlanta region (portions of Atlanta lie within the DeKalb County district). And that was the year that was.
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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
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NEWS
News Briefs 2015
By Terry Shropshire Local and national leaders paid tribute to the venerated Civil Rights leader Julian Bond: Local and national dignitaries poured in the accolades to celebrate the life of legendary Civil Rights leader Julian Bond, who passed away in August 2015 at the age of 75. The Nashville, Tenn., native graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in English before helping to found the ultra-influential civil rights group Student NonViolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Poverty Law Center. He was also a state Senator in Georgia from 1965 to 1985, where he operated in conspicuous isolation because the other white lawmakers refused to interact with him and viewed him as a racial rabble rouser. Mayor Reed celebrated opening of Microsoft Innovation Center: It was quite apropos for intercontinental computer software titan Microsoft to take occupation of the oldest skyscraper in downtown Atlanta, a perfect confluence of the old and the very modern that promises to create future technological magic. Mayor Kasim Reed joined Microsoft North America President Judson Althoff on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of the City of Atlanta’s first Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC). The MIC will be housed exclusively in the historic Flatiron building, and will work with the City’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) to provide development software, coaching and grants to selected women entrepreneurs. Congressman Lewis allocated $6 million in fed grants for 5th Congressional District: Periodically, Rep. John Lewis is notified that organizations within the 5th Congressional District have been selected to receive a variety of federal grants. The federal grants announcement in 2015 detailed support to the tune of $6,431,352 in grants money for the 5th Congressional District. Atlanta’s unemployment the lowest in 10 years: Evidence of greater Atlanta’s complete recovery from the Great Recession in 2009 is found in the fact that the metropolitan’s unemployment rate for October 2015 was 5.4 percent, representing the lowest point since 5.4 percent
was recorded in November 2005, the Georgia Department of Labor reported. The rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.5 percent in September 2015. The rate in October 2014 was 6.5 percent. Morehouse College President began Black Lives Matter Presidential Dialogue: For most African Americans, #BlackLivesMatter was a welcoming and long-overdue vanguard movement that helped provide a nationwide platform for important dialogue on black issues and to air grievances against unjust aspects of American society. For most conservatives, #BlackLivesMatter is still the scourge of society, a dangerous outlaw outfit that has been vilified because it allegedly encourages violence against white people and police officers. Therefore, it was apropos that a prominent member of academia made #BlackLivesMatter an important part of the college campus discussion in order to procure a proper understanding of what it means and what it really stands for. HBCUs partnered with Walgreens to raise $190,000 in scholarships: The Educational Network, which has used its Black history calendar and resource guide to raise more than $400,000 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities through a partnership with Walgreens, marked its 10th year in 2015 by working to raise $190,000 in scholarships. A portion of the sales of the calendar, along with private and corporate donations, will fund the organization’s new “T.E.N. Scholarship” program and support HBCUs.
Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
The King Center presents ‘Beloved Community Talks’
As part of the 2016 King Holiday Observance and reflecting the organization’s mission to build the Beloved Community with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s nonviolent philosophy, Nonviolence 365, The King Center is hosting ‘The Beloved Community Talk: The Race Factor & Rights vs. Responsibilities.’ The dynamic, transforming forum will take place on Saturday, Jan. 9, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the Center’s Yolanda D. King Theatre for the Performing Arts, at 449 Auburn Ave. ‘Beloved Community Talks’ is a series of King Center forums and conversations to build community by reiterating the strength of Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy, with specific attention to relevant topics and social issues such as racism, human trafficking, environmental injustice, and poverty. The ‘Race Factor’ will engage participants in discussions about the role that race plays in negative social constructs, and how we can prevent racial biases from deterring progress. ‘Rights vs. Responsibilities’ will explore how we value and honor our responsibilities to others and to the global community in tandem with respecting individual and collective rights. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, will speak at the Jan. 9 ‘Beloved Community Talks’ and encourages the community to participate in the experience, which will, as she states, “provide a space for having difficult, yet needed, conversations, with attention to deconstructing systems and issues, not attacking people.” This type of space, Ms. King shared, “is achievable with Nonviolence 365, based on my father’s philosophy and as a way of life, and is critical if we want to build the ‘Beloved Community’ that my father and my mother, Coretta Scott King, believed in and worked to realize.” Scheduled panelists and presenters include: Rev. Willie Bolden, a member of the ground crew for the civil rights campaigns led by Dr. King; Arno Michaelis, a former white supremacist group member who now shares about his reformation and ‘Life After Hate;’ Matthew Platt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Morehouse College; Tracie Berry-McGhee, therapist, motivational speaker, author and founder of SistaKeeper; B. Mitchell King, East Regional Manager for Georgia Power, a sponsor of the experience; Nancy Lee Grahn, actress and political activist; Aidan Thomas Hornaday, a teenage speaker and musician on a mission to share the necessity and joy of giving with all ages; Brendan Lee, educator and activist for Baltimore youth and Dave Soleil, nonviolence educator and founder of the Sudbury School of Atlanta. Seating is limited for ‘Beloved Community Talk.’ There is a $20 registration fee. Lunch will be provided.
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Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
FAITH
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5 Biggest stories in faith news in 2015 By Oretha Winston As we bid 2015 a fond farewell, let’s look back at the biggest stories of 2015 that had us talking. There were stories of jet planes, empty churches and disgraced pastors that kept us entranced. #5 Planned Parenthood videos expose baby parts industry We were all shocked and floored as videos and transcripts from a three-year investigation conducted by the pro-life group known as The Center for Medical Progress, Planned Parenthood. They were taking payments for tissue and organs taken from aborted fetuses. The macabre videos discussed procedures in depth that made many ill. After the dust from the videos settled Planned Parenthood was left here: • They admitted that the nation’s largest abortion business has never provided life-saving mammograms. • They stopped accepting payments for harvesting aborted babies’ organs, tissue and limbs amid congressional investigations into its policies and clinic operations. #4 Pew reports that Christianity is declining in U.S. For the first time in our nation more people identified as having ‘no religion’ and took the title as ‘spiritual’. The report found the decline among Christians was due a decline among Mainline Protestants and Catholics. After taking the margin of error into account, the number of Evangelicals may have stayed the same or increased by as many as five million, with most of that increase likely due to more Latino Evangelicals. While the U.S. remains home to more Christians than any other country, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian dropped from 78% in 2007 to 71% in 2014. By contrast, religious “nones,” driven in large part by Millennials, have surged seven percentage points in that time span to make up 23% of U.S. adults last year. #3 Ashley Madison Fall Out Ashley Madison fall out started as a trickle but ended with a waterfall. Ashley Madison was a website that provided married men with the ability to date women who were interested in having an affair with the. Leaders from several denominations in the U.S. and Canada, estimated to be at least 400 church leaders (pastors, elders, staff, deacons, etc.) resigned. There is still a scent of embarrassment in the faith community after the dust has settled. The majority of the email addresses used were personal Hotmail or Gmail accounts, however there were lots who have used worklinked email accounts. There were suicides, disciplinarian citations and removals. The panic after ‘Anonymous’ released the list encouraged many denominations to rethink marriage programs and pastor appointments.
#2. The Creflo Dollar airplane debacle Yes, we all talked about this for hours. None of us could figure out just how this could happen. We have to tell you how this started. It all started with a video request for a Gulfstream
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G650 video. The Gulfstream G650 isn’t just any private jet. Billionaires use these luxury jets. It sells for upwards of $65 million each. It is the “Holy Grail” of luxury private jets, Bloomberg once wrote. Televangelist Creflo Dollar’s ministry announced that it will also buy a G650, a purchase the ministry says is “necessary” to spread God’s word. When the public got wind of the request, all hades broke out. Dollar’s first fundraising effort for the plane, “Project G650,” was dropped in March, just days after it was announced. A video outlining the campaign encouraged Dollar’s followers to donate at least $300 each towards the purchase of a luxury jet. In the video, the ministry explained that the televangelist’s current jet was more than 30 years old and was damaged in November. Within weeks, the ministry board reached out and scrapped the whole idea and removed the video. Minister Dollar decided traveling commercial would be best. And drum roll please…
#1 Mark Driscoll stripped of megachurch and Hill Song removes him Mark Driscoll’s story ended 2014 and continued to 2015. He had long been an evangelical bad boy, a gifted orator and charismatic leader who built one of the nation’s most influential megachurches despite, or perhaps fueled by, a foul mouth, a sharp temper and frank talk about sex.The church he founded, Mars Hill, enjoyed rapid growth in the Pacific Northwest — one of the most secular regions of the nation — and it claims 15,000 members worshiping at 15 campuses in five Western states, and 200,000 more people watching its services online every week. Mark resigned under a cloud of ambiguity but the death nail came when famed Hillsong said farewell. Hillsong, one of the most influential international megachurches, cut him from the speaker list citing it as not suitable. They were actually responding to an online petition that collected about 3,000 signatures advising Hillsong pull the plug on the famed pastor. Needless to say millions of dollars, extensive property and spiritual intel were destroyed in less than a month. Hopefully, Mark will have a better 2016.
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BUSINESS
Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
Hartsfield Jackson makes history
ADW Staff Under a water cannon salute provided by Atlanta Fire and Rescue vehicles, and in front of hundreds of guests, dignitaries and fellow passengers, Flight 1256 made history at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Sunday morning. The Delta Air Lines flight from Gulfport, Mississippi carried ATL’s 100 millionth passenger in 2015, marking the first time ever an airport served more than 100 million passengers in a single year. “I’m happy I could be part of it,” said 35 year-old Larry Kendrick, 24 hours after he was tabbed as ATL’s 100 millionth passenger. “I’m still surprised. I’ve flown in and out of Atlanta quite often, and I enjoy it.” “Today, we are making aviation history,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed told the crowd moments before the flight arrived. “As we move into 2016, it is our commitment to maintain our position as the world’s most travelled airport, the most efficient, and soon we will start competing to be the most sustainable.” “What a year it has been,” ATL General Manager Miguel Southwell said. He cited both the growth of Atlanta as a destination and a strong partnership between ATL and Delta Air Lines as the main explanation for the five percent increase in traffic over the previous year. Officials projected a two percent increase at the start of 2015. “Without Delta,” he added, “we simply would not be standing here today.”
As part of the celebration, Mr. Kendrick was given a 2015 Nissan Altima from Nissan of Union City; two Delta One round-trip tickets good for any destination in the world; a $500 Thanks Again gift card; and a set of wireless headphones from InMotion Entertainment group. Mr. Kendrick, an industrial construction worker traveling from his home in Biloxi to a job in Iowa, was thrilled. “My past two vehicles have been Nissans, I like them,” he said, adding that his Delta tickets may be used for an overseas flight. “I’ve seen a lot of the United States, so Australia is definitely in the mix. Dubai does sound pretty good, too. I don’t know – it’s up in the air,” he said, laughing. ATL officials created an algorithm based on actual passenger numbers from January through November, and projected passenger numbers in December. Accounting firm KPMG validated the algorithm and had representatives attend the event early Sunday morning. Hartsfield-Jackson is the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, serving more than 96.1 million passengers annually with nonstop service to more than 150 U.S. destinations and nearly 70 international destinations in more than 45 countries. ATL boasts a direct economic impact of $34.8 billion in metro Atlanta and a total direct economic impact of $70.9 billion in Georgia. The Airport is the largest employer in Georgia, with more than 63,000 employees.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
“Simply gorgeous stage magic! A must see.” — Broadway World
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Top 5 ‘OOPS’ of 2015 By AJ Williams
As 2015 comes to an end, many of us are reflecting on what has taken place over the last year. Resolutions and promises of new beginnings are the theme of the season, and on that note, we would like to reflect on the top five “OOPS” moments of 2015 with high hopes that the 2016 is equally entertaining.
3. Meek Mills: And the comeback beef that never was So do you remember Meek Mills? After trigger fingers turned to Twitter fingers, rapper Meek Mills verbally attacked Drake with a slew of accusations of hiring ghostwriters to write his rap lyrics. In a comeback response, Drake dropped two diss response tracks “Charged UP” and the charttopping “Back to Back” and we all know what happened next. Meek finally responded in a less than mediocre Drake diss called “Wanna Know” Yes, Meek! We wanna know, what happened to you, your rap, this supposed diss track, your skills. Man, is Nikki still even with you? Hello, will the real Meek Mills please stand up?
ALL-NEW 2016 SHOW WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA 5. Jay-Z: Tidal was more like a rain sprinkle When Jay-Z launched Tidal Music streaming service, the music mogul who normally turns anything he touches into gold, turned Tidal into coal. On top of a late introduction in the stream music game, the price point and the lack of ease for the user prevented Tidal from becoming a “tidal wave” and just fizzled out into a kiddie paddle pool.
COBB ENERGY CENTRE I JANUARY 15-17 “An extraordinary experience. Exquisitely beautiful.” — Cate Blanchett, Academy Award–winning actress
“Absolutely the No.1 Show in the World, Absolutely the Best.” — Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet
“A marvelous program! The ancient Chinese wisdom it conveyed will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also the whole world.” — Ted Kavanau, founding senior producer of CNN Headline News
TICKETS:
Hotline: 770.285.7786 Online: ShenYun.com/Atlanta Box Office: 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339
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4. Raven Simone: We used to love you We loved Raven-Symone as Olivia on “The Cosby Show.” We also loved RavenSymone as Raven on “That’s So Raven.” But with the televised advent of Raven-Symone just being herself, as aco-host on “The View” we realized that we only liked her when she had a script in her hand. From her insensitive comments on the student who was tackled by a South Carolina police officer, to her stance on not hiring people based on their names, she’s made more than a faux pas or two. Raven stated that even as a black woman, she wouldn’t hire other (in this context, black) women if their names sounded a certain way, saying: “I’m not about to hire you if your name is ‘Watermelondrea’. It’s just not gonna happen!” Ms. Raven-Symone, please have several seats and stick to acting.
2. Bill Cosby: From pudding pops to passing mollies 2015 was not a good year for Bill Cosby. With over 50 women coming forth with accusations that the comedian/actor allegedly drugged and raped them, Cosby has a boatload of legal issues facing him. So how does he handle it? By giving a sit-down comedy tour. WTH? Bill Cosby continued with his “Far from Finished” comedy tour. Cosby even went as far as to mock accusers/ victims at his Ontario show, saying “You have to be careful about drinking around me.” Sir. Please. Stop.
1. Steve Harvey: And the winner is … NOT! In probably the most uncomfortable five minutes of television to date. Steve Harvey hosted the 2015 Miss Universe pageant, and when the big moment arrived, he named, Miss Columbia the 2015 Miss Universe. But wait … after Miss Columbia made her walk and took her crown, Harvey returned to the stage to announce that he made a mistake, and that the real winner was Miss Philippines. AWKWARD! Although, Steve Harvey took full responsibility for the mistake, it still was the biggest “OOPS” of 2015 and to Miss Columbia, we’re sorry girl, maybe next year!
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ENTERTAINMENT
Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
Steve Harvey’s (mi)stake in Miss Apollo Nida declines seeing sons Universe pageant By Sonya Eskridge
Steve Harvey has way more job security with the Miss Universe organization than we thought. Get your tea cups, beauties, because this is a good one. Social media exploded last week when Harvey announced the wrong winner at 2015 Miss Universe pageant. It was almost painful to watch Miss Colombia be decrowned after she’d had a moment to soak in her glorious (almost) victory. Everyone was sure that this would be the first and last time Harvey hosted the event. Then it was reported that he’d been asked to host the 2016 pageant, and he’d signed a multi-year deal for the gig. There’s another interesting tidbit about his contract, though. As it turns out, producers didn’t just invite Steve back because they’re banking on everyone tuning in to see if he makes the same mistake. Black Enterprise reports that the TV personality/author owns part of the company that bought the Miss Universe franchise from Donald Trump. As Harvey revealed to Black Enterprise, “I have a deal with the talent part of [WME/ IMG], but I also have a deal with the busi-
ness part of it. A part ownership in it.” Harvey’s got some very big plans for the franchise. He’s hoping to make the pageant even bigger than it already is. “If I take this and can do to this franchise what I’ve done with the ‘Steve Harvey Show’ or ‘Family Feud,’ it could be very successful for us.”
Why transgender Amiyah Scott refused role on ‘RHOA’
By Lee Claire After months of silence, transgender model and would-be reality star Amiyah Scott has ended her self-imposed moratorium to explain why she refused to star on the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Despite the vast platform RHOA would have provided her, Scott said contractual complications with Bravo couldn’t be rectified in time of this year’s episodes. Viewers were anxious to see Scott join the cast especially to fill the void left by franchise fixture NeNe Leakes’ exit. But it appears that Scott’s exit is more than just a contractual dispute. She has reportedly bailed after a month of shooting because higher ups tried to portray her as a femme fatale. According to TMZ, the production was “prodding Amiyah to sexualize herself … wear-
ing lingerie and acting like a vixen.” Scott had designs on becoming a trans role model, the report said, educating audiences along the lines of a Caitlyn Jenner. But the honest story line wasn’t sexy enough for the show’s producers, insiders report. Born Arthur, Scott has openly talked about her transition on social media and describes herself as a transgender model, makeup guru, weave specialist and “unicorn with an invisible horn” in her Twitter profile. She also has her own website where she offers makeup advice to followers. Amiyah posted this Instagram post after last night’s RHOA episode featured her at an event: “Let me say, I enjoyed all the ladies and I had a great time filming multiple scenes with them! Unfortunately, due to contractual complications and the magic of editing, you won’t be seeing as much of me as expected. (I don’t work for free.) … I wasn’t going to exploit myself or act out of character for it. I honestly saw a chance to help change the perspective of my community, but I wanted to maintain my dignity. Housewife and transgender aren’t words that are usually associated … Funny, because anyone who knows me knows that being a housewife is a dream of mine, not on Reality TV, but in real life. … But my point in this is to say, me filming with the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ was not for attention, but to assist in breaking a stereotype. In other words, Scott wants to get paid and keep her dignity while doing it. Seems reasonable.
By Sonya Eskridge Apollo Nida has yet to see his boys since entering prison, and he thinks that’s a good idea. Apollo and Phaedra Parks finally agree on something for the first time in a long time. The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star has said she doesn’t plan on bringing her sons Dylan and Ayden to visit their father in prison, and Apollo’s starting to see things her way. According to sources, Apollo has been placed in a new facility and his sons haven’t gotten clearance to visit him. Even when they
do, though, he doesn’t want them to stop by. Sources close to the “RHOA” husband said Apollo thinks seeing him in prison would be too much for his boys at this time in their lives. However, he has found a workaround. TMZ reports that the best way for him to communicate with his sons would be to use FaceTime for now. He would welcome a visit from the boys when they are older, though. Dylan and Ayden will be dialing in for video calls for a while. Apollo is currently serving eight years in prison for a number of charges, including fraud and identity theft.
24th Annual Trumpet Awards Ceremony Saturday, January 23, 2016 • 4:00 pm Co-Hosts
Nia Long
Mike Epps
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
John A. Williams Theatre • 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway • Atlanta, Georgia, 30339
Mahatma Gandhi Alexis M. Herman Alicia Boler-Davis HRH Princess Basmah Bint Saud
(Posthumously)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Posthumously)
Dr. Curtis L. Ivery Will Packer George Wallace
African American Women in the United States Congress The Honorable Brenda L. Lawrence The Honorable Alma D. Adams The Honorable Barbara Lee The Honorable Karen Bass The Honorable Mia B. Love The Honorable Joyce Beatty The Honorable Gwen Moore The Honorable Corrine Brown The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton The Honorable Yvette D. Clarke The Honorable Stacey E. Plaskett The Honorable Donna F. Edwards The Honorable Terri A. Sewell The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge The Honorable Maxine Waters The Honorable Shelia Jackson Lee The Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson The Honorable Frederica S. Wilson The Honorable Robin L. Kelly
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Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
Biggest stories of 2015
By Patreice Massey
The past year has been chocked full of headline grabbing events that speak volumes about our culture, our lifestyles, our wishes and our sorrows. The Atlanta Daily World examined the world of 2015 and selected 10 stories to remind you of the things that affected us over the last year. Bobbi Kristina Brown Tragedy begot tragedy when the 21-year-old only daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown was found facedown in a bathtub full of water on Jan. 31. Over the course of the next few months, as she remained unresponsive, the focus turned to the young woman’s rocky relationship with boyfriend, Nick Gordon—who along with Bobbi Kristina had led the world to believe that they were husband and wife, until her family revealed that they had never married. Sadly, Bobbi Kristina died at the age of 22 on July 26, and the circumstances of her death remain under investigation in Georgia. Her estate is suing Gordon for wrongful death. The World Meets Caitlyn Jenner Introduced to the world in July via the historic Vanity Fair cover, the 65-year-old Caitlyn Jenner originally born Bruce, said hello loud and proud. Her momentous 2015 continued as Caitlyn accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2015 ESPYs, with her children and stepchildren watching from the audience; she became the star of her own show, I Am Cait; she started conversations all over the world about transgender issues and what it truly means to be able to access your authentic self and live your truth; Caitlyn Jenner has been living her best life as she was also recognized as Time’s Person of the Year. Donald Trump Runs for President And who expected, six months later, that he’d still be running? His campaign, which kicked off with the now former host of “Celebrity Apprentice” announcing he’d build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, has only gotten crazier, with fact-devoid fear-mongering starting to outweigh the comedic value. It’s been real, but... c’mon lets get real…please? Lamar Odom Cheats Death It was a miracle! Seemingly at death’s door after overdosing on herbal Viagra and other drugs at a Nevada brothel, the former L.A. Lakers star woke from a coma with faculties intact enough for him to recognize wife Khloe Kardashian. The “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star was by his side throughout, their split has not yet been made official or legal due to a backlog at the courthouse. Therefore Khloe is still in charge of making major medical decisions on his behalf. With their divorce called off for now, it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens next. Lamar remains hospitalized and the full extent of his progress since those first terrifying days is currently unknown. Khloe continues to date Houston Rockets star James Harden, who we’re told has been nothing but understanding about the whole situation, and regularly visits Lamar in the hospital.
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LIFESTYLE
Bill Cosby’s Downfall Continues It’s hard to put into words what happened Cosby’s image and legacy as a result of the now dozens of sexual assault allegations (denied on Cosby’s end) that have been leveled against him over the past year. What started in 2014 with a joke made by comedian Hannibal Buress only intensified this year as lawsuits were filed and a 2005 deposition was unsealed that had the former sitcom dad admitting to obtaining drugs to give to women he planned to have sex with.
The Late-Night Shakeup Stephen Colbert punctured the balloon last year when he ended “The Colbert Report” in preparation to take over “The Late Show with David Letterman” this year. So in addition to losing “The Report,” we had Letterman’s retirement to not look forward to. So color us stunned when Jon Stewart announced in February that he was leaving “The Daily Show”. Fast-forward to the end of 2015, and Colbert has mostly picked up where he left off on CBS. “The Daily Show” has tapped South African comedian, Trevor Noah as the new, charming host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, where the increasingly bold Larry Wilmore (also a black man) is now leading the charge against Fox News via The Nightly Show. Charlie Sheen’s Bombshell The actor revealed in November that he was diagnosed as HIVpositive several years ago. The former “Two and a Half Men” star said he was finally going public in hopes he could use his celebrity to educate others and put an end to all the hush money he says he’s been compelled to dole out in exchange for people’s silence. Jared Fogle The former Subway spokesperson was arrested in April after federal agents raided his Indiana home and found that he had received and viewed child pornography. Jared Fogle later pled guilty to charges of possession and distribution of child pornography and traveling across state lines to engage in commercial sex acts with minors. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a lifetime of supervision. In total, there were 14 victims, eight of which are still minors. Rachel Dolezal The parents of the former NAACP Spokane, Wash., president—who identified as black, white and American Indian—came forward to say that their daughter spent years lying about her race. Though Rachel Dolezal decided to resign from her position, she still claims she identifies as black and has done so since she was 5 years old. “I was drawing selfportraits with the brown crayon instead of the peach crayon,” she explained in breaking her silence over the controversy. “It was a little more complex than me identifying as black.”
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Despite everything, when asked if she would “make the same choices” today, given what she knows now, Rachel said, “I would.” Ashley Madison The website used to help men find extramarital affairs, Ashley Madison, became a household name in 2015 when hackers released a list of famous men using its services. The people involved included: Josh Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting, Christian vlogger Sam Rader, Real Housewives of New York City star Kristen Taekmann’s husband, Josh, and Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. The whole scandal resulted in Ashley Madison CEO Noel Biderman stepping down. Twitter Feuds This year did not disappoint when it came to Twitter feuds. Drake and Meek Mill blew up our feeds for a solid week after Nicki Minaj’s boyfriend claimed the “Energy” rapper didn’t write his own music. Drake rebutted with two back-to-back songs (pun intended) that shut the whole thing down, especially after Meek’s failed attempt at a diss track. Speaking of Nicki, the female emcee threw some shade at Taylor Swift after the nominees were announced for the MTV Video Music Awards, saying they only nominated videos that include “women with slim bodies.” Swift responded, “@NICKIMINAJ I’ve done nothing but love & support you,” Swift wrote. “It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot.” Nicki said Swift misunderstood what she was saying, and the two eventually put the whole thing behind them by performing together at the awards show. However, Nicki was not as forgiving when she checked pop star Miley Cyrus at that same awards show, asking Cyrus “what’s good b***h?” Deflategate Colts fans will never be the same after this one. Rumor had it the New England Patriots deflated their footballs before the AFC Championship game against the Colts to make them easier to catch. They ended up winning the game in a whopping 45-7 lead, but the repercussions that followed will likely haunt the Patriots forever. Tom Brady was originally penalized with a four-game suspension for his alleged involvement in the deflating of balls, but a federal judge eventually turned it down due to missing “requisites of fairness and due process” . Jay Z & Friends launch Tidal In January, Jay Z acquired Sweden tech company Aspiro for $56 million and launched his latest venture, Tidal an ad-free, high-quality streamingmusic subscription service with a starting price of $10 per month. Tidal, is the newest music streaming service on the block and already it looks like a wash. Less than a month after launching, it was sitting in the deep, recesses of the app charts, at No. 664. It’s hard to identify just one reason why Tidal is failing. You can start with its oblivious marketing message, but I think they totally blew it by bringing out a bunch of millionaires and billionaires, propping them up onstage and then having them all complain about not being paid.
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POLITICS
Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
Senators respond to damning Joint Center diversity report (NNPA)—Long before December’s damning report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies that revealed a stunning lack of diversity among top staff in the U.S. Senate, Nevada Democratic Senator Harry Reid formed a means to assist offices with identifying and hiring a more diverse workforce. Reid started the Democratic Diversity Initiative that, in addition to assisting with a more diverse workforce, would help those who want to work on Capitol Hill with understanding and navigating the job search process. “A Senate workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation and is demographically representational of the constituents we serve,” Reid said of the initiative. “Our concept of diversity and inclusion embraces differences in race, ethnicity, religion, disability and sexual orientation as well as recognizes the military service of our veterans.” On Dec. 8, the D.C.-based Joint Center — an African-American think tank — revealed that just 7 percent of the top staffers in the U.S. New Jersey Democratic Senator Corey Booker Senate are people of color, far below minorities’ reported that researchers looked at top positions in senators’ representation in the population of the United Washington offices, including chiefs of staff, legislative States. The report found only 24 staffers of color out of the 336 top directors, and communications directors in personnel offices, Senate staffers working in Washington. Further, minorities make as well as staff directors assigned to committees. They were only able to find 12 Asian-American, seven up over 36 percent of the U.S. population, and over 28 percent of Latino, three African-American and two Native-American the citizen voting-age population, according to the study. Minorities are also under-represented among U.S. senators. staffers. The top Senate staffers wield important influence with There are two African American senators, three Hispanics, their bosses, and help shape legislation and policies that affect and one Asian-American. everyone, Jones said. James R. Jones, who conducted the Joint Center study, “You need to have people from all walks of life in the room
making decisions,” said Jones, a Ph.D. candidate in the sociology department at Columbia University. Working for the Senate also opens doors to other jobs in government, and by not getting those first congressional jobs, minorities find it more difficult to move up a government ladder that looks favorably upon Capitol Hill experience, he said. Minorities make up larger numbers in the Democratic Party than they do in the GOP, but the study noted that the number of minority staffers was not that different between the two parties. It found that 8.1 percent of the Democrats’ top Senate staffers were minorities and 6.7 percent of the top Republican staffers were minorities. The report noted that people of color make up about 37 percent of those who identify as Democrats, and 9 percent of those who identify as Republicans. “Increasing the presence of people of color in senior staff positions in the Senate will amplify the voices and perspectives of communities of color and in the process enhance the quality of legislative deliberations,” said Spencer Overton, president of the Joint Center. The think tank is calling on senators to increase diversity by interviewing more minorities for top positions, hiring more minority interns and starting fellowships for minority staffers. It also called on the Senate to be more transparent in its staffing because — unlike many government agencies — Congress is not required to monitor the race and ethnicity of its workforce.
Councilman Ivory Lee Young, Jr. holds District 3 Town Hall meeting
Atlanta City Councilmember Ivory Lee Young Jr. will host a District 3 town hall meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan.
11, 2016 at the Foundry at Puritan Mill, 916 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. Constituents will have a chance to discuss issues facing their neighborhoods, interact with several city departments, and receive updates on initiatives and projects across District 3. The forum will cover a variety of topics with a focus on public safety and infrastructure improvements. Councilmember Young is looking forward to hearing first-hand about concerns and priorities that define the district. “Community input is vital to elevating quality of life, improving service delivery, and drafting legislation that will have a positive impact,” said Young. For more information, please call Councilman Young’s office at (404) 330-6046.
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GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Joy Calloway
byJJulianne Malveaux
Woman of the year
Beating the holiday blues While most of us are decorating Christmas trees, hitting the Black Friday sales and “decking the halls,” many of those around us are struggling with depression. The statistics on depression are no secret: an estimated 16 million U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. 10.4 million of those were severely impaired because of their depression. (NIMH, 2012) Yet, depression, which can present in a variety of ways (e.g., anger, irritability, anxiety, general malaise and sadness), remains one of the most under-diagnosed illnesses in the United States. In the African American community, depression is often misdiagnosed, and, due to cultural biases against seeking therapeutic help, is often left untreated, leading to physical manifestations such as headaches, digestive problems, exhaustion, fatigue, and muscle aches and joint pain. Untreated depression can also seriously impact one’s ability to function optimally at work and in relationships. What many of us forget while we are being jolly is that the holiday season is a tremendously difficult time for many people. In addition to the daily stressors of decorating, cooking, hosting out of town guests, and finding the perfect gift, there are also feelings of lack, insufficiency, grief, and loss. At a time when the media bombards us with reports of excessive shopping and spending, people without the means to take part in this perennial ritual may feel woefully inadequate and become stressed, anxious and depressed about their inability to shower their friends and family in the way that society celebrates. Others of those around us are particularly stricken with the absence of loved ones. Regardless of when the loss took place, the seemingly endless family gatherings this time of year can wreak havoc on emotional stability. Still others in our community are unhappy about celebrating without a “significant other” to kiss under the mistletoe or at the stroke of midnight on the eve of a new year. Even those that are usually content may struggle with their emotions this time of year. There is much we can do to support those around us during this simultaneously celebratory and depressive time of year:
existence of depression in your loved ones; do not ignore the signs or be dismissive. 2. Encourage them to seek help. This can be difficult; many people in our society view depression – and other mental illness- very negatively. This stigma prevents people from seeking out the mental health services and supports they need to begin their recovery process. 3. Create opportunities for those struggling with depression – or at risk of doing so – to get out of isolation, to socialize, and create new holiday memories with YOUR friends and family, at your church, social club or other organization sensitive to the needs of those who may be hurting this time of year. Community-based organizations like New Center Community Services are available for those seeking help. We serve individuals who are experiencing both chronic (long-term, repeated episodes) and acute (short-term) emotional disturbances including stress, anxiety and depression, all of which can impair the ability to lead healthy and productive lives. We provide a range of programs and services including counseling, stress management, medication evaluations, and socialization programs, which promote recovery focused self-management services. Yes, eat, drink and be merry during this festive season! AND be aware of those around you who might be struggling and need a helping hand. Joy D. Calloway, MBA, MHSA President and CEO New Center Community Services www.newcentercmhs.org
1. Recognize and gently acknowledge the
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Jannie Ligons is an Oklahoma City grandmother who left a friend’s house to drive home. She collided with Daniel Holtzclaw, the rogue police officer who seemed to think it was part of his duty to sexually abuse black women. He raped them because he could. They did not accuse him because they feared they could not. Some had criminal records – they had been involved with drugs or had other skirmishes with the law. They felt both vulnerable and violated, and they thought nobody would believe them. At least 13 women were violated, and they were only identified because one courageous woman, Jannie Ligons, took her complaint to the police. She had no criminal record and nothing to hide from. She simply had the harrowing experience of encountering a white (really half Japanese, but that’s another story) man with a badge, feelings of superior racial identity, and a penis. According to many of the accounts of women who encountered Daniel he referred to his whiteness as he violated them. Many of the women had other matters with the law, and he intimidated them into silence. In our nation’s sordid history, when black women spoke they found themselves denigrated or ignored. In 1944, Recy Taylor, a 24-yearold mother, was abducted as she walked form church with her friends. A car full of white men threatened her with a shotgun, then took her into an abandoned field and repeatedly raped her. The men who raped Ms. Taylor said she welcomed the sex and they paid her. They could have been arrested, but a complicit sheriff ignored the law. When an all-white jury heard the case, they failed to indict the six men who raped Recy Taylor. In 2011, Alabama offered Recy Taylor an apology for failing to properly manage the case. Justice delayed is justice denied. There are too many black women, raped by white men, whose experiences are swallowed in the vacuum of history. There are some experiences that have been captured, though. Consider Betty Jean Owens, a Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) student, who was talking with three friends when a group of white men, armed with shotguns and switchblades abducted her. They admitted, as they were arrested, that
they were looking for a black woman to rape, and made jokes about it. The horrible criminals might have escaped prosecution and gotten away with their crime had not a young white police intern organized a search party to find Owens. Had there been no protests or national attention, the rapists may have been acquitted. They were convicted, but Betty Owens was further demeaned through a trial that questioned her virtue, and asserted that she didn’t fight hard enough (with a shotgun to her head). Her dress, they said, wasn’t torn enough to indicate a rape. Unexpectedly, the all-white jury found the rapists guilty, with life sentences. At least one of them was paroled to rape and kill again (and he did). Those who defended Daniel Holtzclaw took a page from the historical playbook when they paraded the backgrounds of his rape victims before the all white jury. They were on drugs. They had arrest warrants (sometimes for simple parking tickets). Well, someone who has dabbled with drugs can be raped; someone with outstanding warrants should not be victimized. The women with police records may have been reluctant to come forward, but Jannie Ligons had no record and no warrants. She was a grandmother minding her business and her speaking up opened the door for others to speak. She reminded other women that they could stand up to injustice. Too many black women have been forced into silence; those who speak up pay consequences. Jannie Ligons deserves to be acknowledged because she took a risk and may pay a price for outing a rouge police officer. He took advantage of women simply because he could. Jannie Ligons the self-described “wrong woman to stop” was willing to spotlight Holtzclaw’s abuse. She is my woman of the year, and she deserves all acknowledgements. I am encouraging our African American organizations to lift this sister up, to give her high props, to give her every award that is available. She stands on the shoulders of Recy Taylor, Betty Owens and countless others. She has helped serve Mr. Holtzclaw a steaming plate of justice. She fought the fight and so must we. In the words of Mari Evans, “Look on her and be renewed.”
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Civil Right leaders urge leniency for Tyrone Brooks P. 3
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Johnny Gill at Mayor’s Masked Ball P.6 November 12-18,
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