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“I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future..” – Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. Powered by Real Times Media

Volume 89 • Issue 28

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February 16 - 22, 2017


February 16 - 22, 2017

COVER STORY

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Will Trump do a better job than Obama with HBCUs?

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting on African American History Month with Omarosa Manigault, who is now a communications official and HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, (AP Photo/File/Evan Vucci) By Lauren Victoria Burke Despite a cavalcade of political distractions and a legal battle over immigration, President Trump appears to be focused on funding Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Less than three weeks in office the Trump Administration is in the process of writing an executive order on HBCUs; there’s also loud talk of increased funding, and the White House is planning an event with HBCU college presidents later this month. On Feb. 8, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that, “the President has a strong commitment to them [HBCUs] and understands that over the last eight years they’ve been woefully neglected and I think he really wants to show a commitment in funding to HBCUs. You’ll see not just a push this month, but in his budget and going forward.” On Feb. 9, new Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visited Howard University President Wayne Frederick for a, “robust discussion around the many challenges facing higher education and the important role of HBCUs.” It was DeVos’ first official event at a university as Secretary of Education. House Republicans, led by Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), are working in parallel with the White House on the issue and will host and all-day HBCU forum on February 28 in Washington, D.C. at the Library of Congress. The event will include House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) who is the co-chair of the HBCU Caucus in the House. Thurgood Marshall College Fund President Johnny Taylor and United Negro College Fund Senior Vice President Cheryl Smith will also attend. The future of HBCUs is one of the few issues that Black members of Congress and Southern White Republicans can often find policy agreement on in an ultra-partisan era. The focus of discussions at Rep. Walker’s February 28th event will be how to assist HBCUs in challenging times. Many associated with the event say they want to hear “real talk” from the schools and have invited many HBCU presidents and advocates to attend. Two HBCUS shutdown doing the time President

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Obama was in office: St. Paul’s College in Virginia and in Aug. 2012, Morris Brown College filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid foreclosure and by 2015, staff had to volunteer to keep the school running. In 2013, layoffs hit Morehouse as enrollment dropped after the Parent PLUS crisis. HBCUs experienced one of the worst periods in decades during the eight years President Obama was in office. HBCU advocates were often left out of the loop by the Obama White House on policies directly impacting their colleges and universities; members of Congress continuously defended HBCUs from Obama Administration policy. In 2015, members of Congress and advocates were

HBCUs. The money was later restored after members of Congress, led by former House Education Committee Chairman George Miller, scrambled to find a way to fill the shortfall. In 2011, the Department of Education decided to make it harder for parents to secure Parent PLUS loans by tightening credit worthiness standards. Though over 400,000 parents had been rejected for Parent PLUS loans in early 2013, the change hit the parents of HBCU students disproportionately and interrupted the college careers of 28,000 HBCU students. HCBU advocates considered suing the Obama Administration over the change, but later decided not to. HBCUs collectively lost $150 million in tuition over the Parent PLUS loan decision. In September 2013, President Obama’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan apologized to HBCU leaders and advocates for the Parent PLUS loan decision and the lack of communication. “Communication internally and externally was poor,” Duncan said. “I apologize for that, and for the real impact it has had.” In February 2015, President Obama was critical of Historically Black Colleges and Universities during a tense meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Only a few weeks before the meeting, President Obama’s own White House HBCU Advisory Board Chair, Hampton University President Dr. William Harvey, was critical of the Obama Administration. “Pell grants to students at HBCUs are down. Direct loans to our students are down. Graduate subsidies have been eliminated. In addition to student support, overall support to Black colleges is down,” said Harvey, who has been president of Hampton since 1978 Though the details of what happens next with the Trump Administration in the driver’s seat are unknown, that they have chosen to make HBCUs the target of an executive order and that there are several well positioned HBCU advocates close to the White House may bode well for HBCU policy over the next four years.

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

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blindsided by President Obama’s announcement to push for two years of free community college tuition. The plan would have sent federal money to states that would eliminate tuition and fees for community college students, but the plan failed to specifically include HBCUs. In July 2015, members of Congress expanded the plan to include HBCUs by way of targeted grants. In 2009, President Obama’s first budget cut $73 million in funding for

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NEWS

February 16 - 22, 2017

City Council candidate to pursue council term limits 18 candidates qualify for

In an attempt to bring a more progressive culture to Atlanta city politics, policy making, and city operations, first-time council candidate, Greg Clay, will work to bring terms limits to all city council seats, excluding the City Council President role. Announcing his candidacy on January 14, 2017, Clay is one of the city council candidates that recently maintained momentum for the council seat he is pursuing, by procuring more fundraising dollars than the current incumbent on the January 31st fundraising deadline disclosure. Clay’s plan

calls for a charter revision that further solidifies Atlanta’s commitment to progressive, forward-thinking governance. With the changes being modifications to the city charter, Clay plans to talk with representatives at the state level as a part of his campaign’s outreach plan—in addition to meeting with district 3 voters about the idea. “We have a district that has had one council representative for 16 years”, Clay stated. “This isn’t a slight at any of our longtime elected officials. We thank them for their service. But this is about Atlanta’s future and our commitment to inclusive government. A government that will be structured to change as communities change as well.” Clay is also looking to discuss other charter revisions with state representatives that bring more balance between the city council, and city operations that can be more responsive to citizen concerns. The last time the city charter was modified was in 1996, which modified the number of city council representatives. Prior to that, the charter was changed in 1974. “With Atlanta forecasted to rapidly grow over the next years, we must position our systems of governance in a way that promotes inclusion, best practices, and a democracy representative of changes in the communities we serve. We know with the upcoming elections, we will have a new mayor, new city council president, and new city council representatives. This is an opportune time to discuss these types of charter modifications, and we are currently reviewing more opportunities similar to these.” Clay is a first-time candidate for public office, but has spent the bulk of his professional career as a public practitioner, working with city and county managers, and elected officials at the local and state level. He is an Atlanta native and currently resides in Atlanta’s District 3 where he is running for city council.

6th Congressional District seat ADW reports

Eighteen candidates have officially qualified for the April 18, 2017 Special Election for the sixth congressional district. This week, Secretary of State Brian Kemp hosted qualifying to fill the seat following the confirmation of former federal Representative Tom Price as the new Health and Human Services Secretary in Washington, D.C. Qualifying closed at 1 p.m. today. Eleven Republican candidates – David Abroms, Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan, Keith Grawert, Bob Gray, Karen Handel, Judson Hill, Amy Kremer, Bruce LeVell, William Llop, Dan Moody, and Kurt Wilson – qualified for the seat. Alexander Hernandez and Andre Pollard qualified as Independent candidates. Five Democrats – Ragin Edwards, Richard Keatley, Jon Ossoff, Rebecca Quigg, and Ron Slotin – also qualified for the seat. The sixth congressional district covers parts of Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton counties. To take part in this contest, eligible Georgia citizens must have registered or already be registered to vote on or before March 20, 2017. Advance in-person voting will begin on Monday, March 27, 2017. On Election Day, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. A run-off election, if needed, will be held on June 20, 2017.

Transformation Alliance gets $1 million for transportation and housing ADW reports TransFormation Alliance today announced that Atlanta was selected to join the Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC). SPARCC is a three-year, $90 million initiative that will bolster local groups and leaders in their efforts to ensure that, as major new investments in transportation are made, they improve equity, health, and environmental outcomes for all residents. Atlanta’s transit and community investments are at a transformational point, potentially increasing by billions of dollars. The award from SPARCC will enable Atlanta to create a new model of an equitable, healthy, and climate-wise development and ensure benefits for all residents. Following a competitive application process in 2016, Atlanta is one of six sites chosen to receive initial funding and expert technical assistance from SPARCC. The others are Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Memphis, and San Francisco Bay Area. TransFormation Alliance – a diverse group of organizations representing government agencies, business partners, metro Atlanta’s transit agency, and the nonprofit community – was awarded $1 million in direct grant and technical assistance funds over the next three years. Collectively, the SPARCC sites will have access to an estimated pool of $70 million in financing capital, as well as $14 million in additional programmatic support. “We are honored to be selected as a SPARCC recipient,” said Meaghan Shannon-Vlkovic, vice president and southeast market leader of Enterprise Community Partners, one of the members of TransFormation Alliance. “As we look to improve and expand our city’s public transportation, equity must be part of the conversation. This investment will ensure that Atlanta remains an economically and culturally diverse city and that residents from all of our communities are connected to good jobs, schools, health care, and transportation.” With the award, TransFormation Alliance will:

-Demonstrate the potential for a new development style that focuses on equity, health, and environmental outcomes. The demonstration focus area is the Lee Street corridor, from the West End MARTA station to the Oakland City MARTA station in southwest Atlanta. -Advocate for racial equity during the MARTA expansion and continued development of the BeltLine through both policy changes and the built environment. -Address shortcomings and challenges that result from spatial segregation, including the health and climate disparities that disproportionately impact black neighborhoods. -Ensure residents and organizations are involved in the decision-making process, by deepening capacity-building opportunities for established and emerging community leaders and civic institutions, and by incorporating arts and culture-based community engagement. -Advocate for policies to increase resources for strategies that reinforce SPARCC principles, including advocating for the allocation of additional budget and funding toward affordable housing preservation and development. -Use innovative capital strategies, including advancing the early acquisition of sites for affordable housing, healthy food initiatives, healthcare facilities, infrastructure development, the leveraging of green and energy efficiency rehab programs, and advancing models of permanent affordability. These efforts will result in altering the inequitable development trajectory of our region and create a new approach to transit and community development investments. This new approach is underpinned by racial equity, incorporates arts and culture-based community engagement, responds to community needs and shapes future health and climate outcomes. “In the past, policy and programmatic decisions about how

to invest in the places we live, work, and play have all too often led to deeper poverty and less opportunity for people of color and low-income communities,” said Brian Prater, executive vice president of strategy, development, and public affairs at the Low Income Investment Fund, one of the national partners of SPARCC. “This is a critical moment when big infrastructure investments are coming, or are already underway, and people of all races and incomes should benefit. We are excited to support the SPARCC sites and look forward to seeing the results of these local efforts to positively shape our cities and regions for generations.” Atlanta’s history has been a tale of two cities, with investment and growth favoring communities to the north of Interstate 20, while poverty and disinvestment concentrated south of Interstate 20. Atlanta’s communities bear the result of historical racism that affected policies, plans, and public investments, contributing to a stark economic and racial divide. “Historically low-wealth communities of color have played a key role in subsidizing metro Atlanta’s transit,” said Nathaniel Smith, founder and chief equity officer at the Partnership for Southern Equity. “It will be important that these communities are positioned to benefit from investments in new transit and infrastructure improvement.” In addition to funding support, each SPARC site has access to an extensive learning network, and advisory services from a range of experts, to help advance local efforts. SPARCC is an initiative of Enterprise Community Partners, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Low Income Investment Fund, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, with funding support from the Ford Foundation, The JPB Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The California Endowment. Long term, SPARCC’s intention is for other cities, communities and regions to adopt similar approaches to achieving more just economic, health and environmental outcomes, using the success of SPARCC sites as a model.

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February 16 - 22, 2017

COMMUNITY

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Hank Aaron honored at Delta Flight Museum Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, UPS and The Home Depot are just a handful of the Fortune 100 headquartered in Atlanta that came together to celebrate the life and times of baseball legend Hank Aaron on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Delta Flight Museum. This extraordinary event benefited The Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation furthering its work to empower children and young adults in Atlanta. Broadcasting legend Bob Costas hosted a gathering of athletes (Cam Newton, Dale Murphy, Kevin Butler, etc.), celebrities (Luci Baines Johnson – daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, Usher, etc.), friends and family to pay tribute to Aaron on his 83rd birthday. While the world knows Hank Aaron as the most prolific home run hitter of all time, this event celebrated Hank and Billye Aaron’s off-field accomplishments as two of Atlanta’s most generous philanthropists.

Historic Fourth Ward Pond Project earns national achievement award

ADW reports Recently, the Department of Watershed Management was honored with an Operations & Environmental Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. The Historic Fourth Ward Pond Project was recognized for outstanding achievement in stormwater management. The 17-acre greenspace now known as the Historic Fourth Ward Park was transformed from a barren, brownfield that witnessed massive flooding into a vision for sustainable redevelopment. “The nine-million gallon Historic Fourth Ward Pond provides an innovative solution to flooding and combined sewer capacity issues in the Old Fourth Ward community and serves as the centerpiece for the park,” said Watershed Management Commissioner Kishia L. Powell. “This functional amenity is able to detain flows from a 100-year storm while providing a beautiful recreational area for surrounding neighborhoods.” Powell accepted the award on behalf of the Department of Watershed Management at the NACWA 2017 Awards Ceremony in Tampa, FL. The award recognizes an innovative and effective project, system or method relating to wastewater treatment plant or collection system operations developed and successfully implemented in a cost-effective manner while achieving environmental compliance objectives. Original design to mitigate flooding issues in the area included the construction of an underground conveyance tunnel at an estimated price tag of $40 million. The stormwater pond was completed in 2011 for approximately $26 million, creating a savings of approximately $14 million and was built to comply with Atlanta’s federal consent decree requirements.

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Atlanta Braves honor late VP of Operations and GM Bill Lucas By Diane Larche’ Rubye Lucas sat listening to glowing remarks at a tribute for her late husband Bill Lucas, occassionally dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, which turned to laughter as she listened to guests share funny stories about the popular baseball executive from those in the room. The two met as freshmen at Florida A & M University. The young couple relocated to Atlanta from Milwaukee with the Braves and he became the highest ranking African American in baseball ascending to Vice President of Operations and General Manager where he was over player personnel. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 43. Flanked by her daughters Wonya and Andrea, and close friends Braves icon Hank and wife Billye Aaron, Lucas heard the Braves organization announce naming of the Bill Lucas Conference Room at the new Braves home the Sun Trust Park in Cobb County, the very room where the press conference was being held. During that announcement came a few surprises, one that was particularly moving for her and her daughters; the Braves will create the Bill Lucas Apprenticeship program for minorities. Another surprise was the naming of Bill Lucas Way, a road at the entrance of the new sports structure at Circle 75 Parkway. Besides Aaron, others who attended included Braves great Dale Murphy who flew to Atlanta for the ceremony. Murphy said Bill Lucas was like family to him. When Murphy joined the Braves as a teenager he said Bill Lucas made sure he was taken care of and Murphy’s parents felt comfortable that their son would be in good hands. At the end of the program he stood sharing stories and laughing with the Lucas women about their husband and dad. He left, assuring them he’d be back for opening

day in April. “There isn’t a finer example, that I’ve run across in my life, than Bill Lucas. I am grateful for the friendship of Bill and Rubye and the family,” said Murphy. Braves Chairman John Schuerholz, when announcing the apprenticeship program, said there are not yet concrete plans and it will be developed over the coming year. “That is good news about the apprenticeship program,” said Lucas. In 2006 Bill Lucas was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame. “The Atlanta Braves took care of us. The Atlanta Braves have been our life” said Lucas.” You didn’t have to do what you did, but you did, and I thank you” “I just want to thank the Braves,”said Wonya. “My father taught me a lot about leadership through the good times and the bad. My father taught me a lot about passion and doing things in your life that you believe in and doing them every morning, noon and night. He had that passion.” “This is a very happy moment because of the fact that growing up with the braves I used to be called my father’s assistant general manager. He

would always come home and pick me up for the games. I was the one who trailed him around the stadium and always behind him. He even paid me a salary which I found out later was lunch money,” Andrea Lucas shared. “For me, it just culminates what he was about. He was always about reaching out and giving back, and really working for everyone. And to come back and see they still remember him 43 years later, and giving him this honor is amazing. “The most important thing is the apprenticeship. That is about taking minority candidates, men and women, and training them [about] how to rise up through the operational side of baseball. And, we need more African Americans and people of color … that is the amazing part. Andrea said her dad at home was very loving and caring, and came to his chldren’s events in spite of his busy travel schedule. He called every day along with training them about strategy and relationships. “He always said respect everyone. He always did that and made sure we did too.”


BUSINESS First black entrepreneur wins Cumming-Forsyth business of the year award

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ADW reports The Mauldin Group of Roswell Georgia was the honored recipient of the CummingForsyth Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year Award at the Excellence in Business Awards Gala that took place on Feb. 9. There to receive the award was business owner, CEO and managing director, Bonnie Mauldin. This was an amazing feat for both The Mauldin Group and the CummingForsyth Chamber, with Bonnie Mauldin being the first African American to when the award in the chamber’s history. The Cumming area coming under much scrutiny for many years due to racial tensions. In 1987, The Oprah Winfrey Show was highly-protested, with Winfrey facing death threats for hosting the show in Cumming. The Mauldin Group’s award is viewed as a big step for the community as well as sign of

February 16 - 22, 2017

hope for future minority entrepreneurs in the area. “I can’t express how blessed and honored I feel to be the first African American business owner to win this award. As a female entrepreneur, it can feel as if you are often fighting the wind but today we soar. I must say The Mauldin Group could not have accomplished this without the support of our creative team of marketing and design experts. I also have to give many thanks to my husband and my two children, they have been my cheerleaders all along,” says Bonnie Mauldin. The Mauldin Group, which specializes in the online digital marketing for small to medium businesses, has experienced exceptional growth during its first three years of business. Under the guidance of Bonne Mauldin.

SMDO conference celebrates 15 years of success Each year, the South Metro Development Outlook shines the spotlight on South Metro advancements and this year marks the conference’s 15th year of doing just that. With the theme “Reflecting and Accelerating our Outstanding Growth,” the 15th Annual South Metro Development Outlook Conference will recognize 15 years of success, showcasing South Metro’s vast reasons for celebration — from extraordinary economic growth to new leadership and quality development to outstanding job creation. SMDO, which got its start in 2003, is the largest development conference in south metropolitan Atlanta. SMDO 2017 will take place Thursday, Feb. 23, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center at 2000 Convention Center Concourse in College Park. The conference has served as a platform to convene industry experts, corporate executives, government leaders and elected officials interested in fostering economic growth in south metropolitan Atlanta. SMDO highlights Clayton, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Henry, South Fulton and Spalding counties as well as the city of Atlanta. This year, Cobb and DeKalb counties will be featured as well. “Since 2003, the South Metro Development Outlook has been a catalyst for promoting economic development in the south metropolitan region,” said Jack Longino, Mayor of College Park. “I appreciate how Michael Hightower [the SMDO founder] has placed the spotlight on the Southern Crescent, and each year it has grown bigger and better than the year before.” The packed lineup of industry leaders, elected and government officials, transportation experts and more include City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; John Eaves, Chairman, Fulton County Board of

Commissioners; Roosevelt Council, General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; and Joseph Folz, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Porsche Cars North America, Inc., and Chairman Emeritus, Aerotropolis Atlanta. Others include Michael Hightower, SMDO founder and managing partner, The Collaborative Firm, LLC; Jeffrey Turner, Chairman, Clayton County Board of Commissioners; Russell McMurry, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation; and Doug Hooker, Executive Director, Atlanta Regional Commission. New county commission chairs will be taking part in this year’s SMDO: Romona Jackson Jones (Douglas County), Eric Maxwell (Fayette County), June Wood (Henry County), Michael Thurmond (DeKalb County) and Oz Nesbitt, Jr. (Rockdale County). Session topics include 2017 Economic Forecast; South Metro’s New Leadership; Transportation on the Go in South Metro and South Metro Community Improvement District update. Comcast is the presenting sponsor for the 15th-annual South Metro Development Outlook Conference. Other sponsors include City of College Park, Development Authority of Clayton County, Development Authority of Fulton County, Aerotropolis Atlanta, Community Improvement Districts, Georgia Power Company, The Collaborative Firm, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and more. Registration for the South Metro Development Outlook Conference is $70 in advance until Wednesday, Feb. 15, and $80 the day of the conference. For more on the South Metro Development Outlook, go to www.southmetrooutlook.com or call (404) 684-7031.

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LIFESTYLE

February 16 - 22, 2017

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Sex, balms and other unexpected strategies for fighting allergies

Wheezing and sneezing definitely isn’t the most invigorating way of getting through the day. But runny noses, congestion and itchy throats are an unfortunate fact of life for the more than 50 million Americans who suffer from nasal allergies that can be triggered by tree pollen, grass pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold and other causes. Some experience their worst moments in the spring. For others the agony arrives in the fall. And some unfortunates deal with the problem year-round. Max Wiseberg understands and identifies with their watery eyes and every “achoo” that escapes their lips. “I had hay fever all my life and I tried everything,” Wiseberg says. “I took pills. I underwent acupuncture. Either the remedies didn’t work, gave me headaches or made me drowsy.” Not one to give up, Wiseberg mulled the problem between sneezes and finally latched onto a wonderfully crazy idea during a conversation with his sister. She suggested that it would be marvelous if there was something you could rub on the base of your nostrils to trap the allergen invaders before they could enter the nasal passages and begin their insidious work. Inspired, Wiseberg created an organic,

natural nasal balm that he dubbed HayMax™ (www.haymax.us), which could accomplish just what his sister envisioned – act as a block against pollen, dust or pet allergen. Less allergen in the body meant less for the body to react against. “It was like magic and I was greatly relieved,” he says. For Wiseberg, the personal battle with hay fever was the beginning of a new business endeavor. Not every allergy solution arouses the entrepreneurial spirit in sufferers, but many remedies are perhaps nearly as magical, including:

• Sex. In one of the more creative solutions to the problem, an Iranian neurologist suggested in a 2008 study that sex might hold the key to hay fever relief. According to the neurologist, Sina Zarrintan, here’s why: At the point of orgasm the sympathetic nervous system constricts blood vessels across the body. This can help with the nasal congestion associated with hay fever because the congestion usually is caused by membranes becoming swollen from inflamed blood vessels. One downside for women: Zarrintan’s research applied only to men. • Pineapple and other luscious treats. Some foods are natural antihistamines.

“I see Americans of every party, every background, every faith who believe that we are stronger together: black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; young, old; gay, straight; men, women, folks with disabilities, all pledging allegiance under the same proud flag to this big, bold country that we love. That’s what I see. That’s the America I know!” –President Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States

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Capers, red onions and watercress, for example, contain high amounts of the natural antihistamine quercetin. Toss in a side order of pineapple because it contains bromelain, which helps the body absorb quercetin. • Curry, the spicier the better. If you’re dining out Indian style, choosing the hottest curry on the menu can help your hay fever. If you’re making your own curry, feel free to pour on the spices. Turmeric, an orange-yellow spice, widely used in curries and South Asian cuisine, is believed to reduce inflammation caused by the enzyme phospholipase A2, which is provoked into action by pollen in your system. For itchy-eyed allergy sufferers, there’s just one ultimate goal. “You want relief,” Wiseberg says. “You’re not going to find a cure, so the next best thing is to avoid or block the pollen whenever you can.”


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ENTERTAINMENT

February 16 - 22, 2017

’60 Days in Atlanta’ premier stars Fulton County Jail inmates Thousands to step up for 33rd A&E Network’s hit series “60 Days In” enters Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail for two new explosive seasons at one of the most dangerous facilities in the country. With five times the number of inmates as previous seasons, rampant drug problems, a powerful gang population and the constant threat of violence, innocent participants plunge deeper into this dangerous world of incarceration. The two groups of participants were shot in back-to-back phases and will air over two seasons. The highly anticipated third season will consist of nine undercover participants who enter the program to gain a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system. “60 Days In” was cable’s #1 unscripted crime series in 2016 among adults 25-54, 18-49 and total viewers in Live+7 viewing. Produced by Lucky 8 TV, “60 Days In: Atlanta” premieres Thursday, March 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on A&E. The Fulton County Jail, led by Chief Jailer Colonel Mark C. Adger, is plagued with rival gangs, drugs, and corruption. After learning about the tremendous success of the previous undercover programs in Clark County, Indiana, Colonel Adger, decided to use innocent civilians to help him expose the root of these issues, while providing an unbiased perspective of life inside his facility. The participants who infiltrate the jail this season include

a special education teacher who works with at risk youth, a man who believes that the system has failed African Americans and wants to help fight discrimination, a former corrections officer who wants to see what it is like when the roles are reversed, a woman who met her husband while he was incarcerated and hopes to understand his institutionalized behavior, a Marine with law enforcement aspirations and others. Unlike previous seasons, male and female participants will be separated in two different facilities; men will be housed in the main campus where they share a cell with one other inmate, while females will be in cell-bunk form with seven other inmates. The participants are on lockdown with their cell mates for over 15 hours a day and face immense pressure to fit in or risk being the target of threats, violence or their having covers blown. “60 Days In: Atlanta” is produced by Lucky 8 TV for A&E Network. Executive producers for Lucky 8 TV are Gregory Henry, Kimberly Woodard, Jeff Grogan, Isaac Holub and Kelly McClurkin. Executive producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro, and Brad Holcman. The 60 Days In series has been embraced in over 100 territories worldwide on A&E and Crime + Investigation™.

Annual Hunger Walk/Run

Registration is now open for the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s largest event, the Hunger Walk/Run on Sunday, March 5 in Downtown Atlanta. The annual 5K raises critical funds needed to make a difference for hungry neighbors in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Since 1984, the run has united thousands of people including faith groups, corporations and families, all who are dedicated to helping feed the nearly 1 in 5 Georgians facing hunger. The race, a beloved Atlanta tradition, benefits the Food Bank and five other other partners – Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia, The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Lutheran Services of Georgia, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and St. Vincent De Paul Society. In addition to raising funds, Hunger Walk/Run also raises awareness about the prevalence of hunger for the more than 900,000 working families, seniors and children in our community who face hunger and food insecurity each day. Through the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s network of 600 partner agencies, 755,000 people are given the food assistance they desperately need. Last year, the Food Bank distributed nearly 70 million pounds of food and grocery products--- enough for nearly 58 million meals. Since the start, the Hunger Walk/Run has always been a great place for family-friendly fun, drawing some 15,000 people each year from all walks of life who come out to make a difference in the lives of those facing hunger. This year the event will feature live music, a kids play zone and delectable eats from some of Atlanta’s best food trucks. The fun begins at noon at 755 Hank Aaron Drive, with the run/walk kicking off at 2 pm. Through noon March 3, registration is $25 for walkers, $35 for runners and registration the day of increases by $5.

Atlanta veterinarian remembered on the big screen The multi-award winning, rescue documentary Lion Ark will be screening on Sunday Feb. 19, 1 p.m. at the Plaza Theater, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE The screening is a special tribute to Atlanta veterinarian Dr. Mel Richardson who passed away in January 2014. Dr. Mel, as he was known around world, was the veterinarian for the dramatic rescue of 25 lions by Animal Defenders International from circuses in Bolivia that is documented in Lion Ark. There will be a short film about Dr. Mel accompanying the main feature. There will also be a Q&A with the director and rescue team leaders who will be coming from a bear rescue in Peru. The movie took film festivals by storm winning 11 awards and an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding International Motion Picture – the first time for an animal protection film in the prestigious civil rights awards. Dr. Mel Richardson who lived in Atlanta

passed away in January 2014 and his untimely death from heart failure sent a shock wave through the animal protection movement. Vastly experienced, with over 40 years working with captive wildlife, Mel had initially been employed by zoos and the captive wildlife industry before turning his back on that world and dedicating his life to saving and protecting animals. As well as veterinary work, he provided an eloquent voice for animals, giving evidence in Congress and elsewhere. In an incredibly poignant scene in the film Lion Ark, Mel noted tearfully: “What motivates me now, was all the 42 years I didn’t do anything and all the suffering that I’ve seen with captive wild animals. At least, thanks to ADI and others, I have an opportunity to make amends, that’s what motivates me.” ADI recently rescued over 30 lions from circuses in Peru and Colombia and funds raised at the screening will go towards a natural bush enclosure dedicated to Dr. Mel Richardson for a group of those lions.

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February 16 - 22, 2017

Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus hosts auditions

The Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus is celebrating 50 years of excellence in African American spirituals, gospels, hymns and classical works, and holding February auditions for singers of all voice types. Interested persons are invited to be our guest for Rehearsal and to stay for a Private Audition at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on the campus of Morehouse College on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Organized as the Atlanta University Center Community Chorus by Dr. Whalum and renamed in his honor after his passing, the chorus is honored to uphold the legacy of Dr. Whalum and his leadership of the Morehouse Glee Club and the Morehouse-Spelman Chorus. The choir focuses on African American spirituals and other styles in which Dr. Whalum was a prolific composer and innovator. The choir is directed by Dr. David Morrow, Morehouse Professor of Music and Director of the Morehouse Glee Club. Singers are invited to join an exciting season with the chorus. In November, the Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus performed its Fiftieth Anniversary and Annual Fall concert featuring alumni from the choir’s history. In October, the chorus performed at the renowned Colour of Music Festival in Charleston, S.C., singing the Faure Requiem and the Schicksalslied by Brahms in a multi-state combined chorus in honor of the victims of the Charleston Church Massacre under the baton of Dr. David Morrow. An annual concert and a National Association of Negro Musicians performance is planned for the spring.

EDUCATION

UAW-Ford debuts student writing contest for Black History Month For Black History Month, UAW-Ford is debuting a writing contest for youth and strengthening its commitment to serve the communities in which its members live, work and play. Youth ages 8-18, whose parents are active or retired UAWFord members, are eligible to enter the contest. They must write an essay or poem explaining how black history makes their community better. Winners will be selected Feb. 7 and announced Feb. 15. The top 10 participants will have the opportunity to perform live during an awards reception at the UAW-Ford National Program Centers Building, 151 West Jefferson in Detroit, Feb. 28. “We are pleased to invest in the communities that are most in need by providing resources and by working side-by-side with community members to ensure stronger neighborhoods are built,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW-Ford vice president. “UAW-Ford is invested in helping to improve the quality of life for all people, and we must continue to reach our youth, who will carry forward the foundation we’ve set before them for generations to come.” UAW-Ford will continue to host its Saturday in the D program, which offers metro Detroit youth free enrichment courses at Northwestern High School and Mumford High School. A total of 40 academic and extracurricular classes are available to students, including courses in robotics, tutoring, English, algebra, upholstery, poetry, financial literacy, debate, dance and more.

“Ford Motor Company is proud to sponsor Saturday in the D, and to help enrich the lives of youth throughout our community,” said Bill Dirksen, Ford Motor Company vice president, labor affairs. “When we invest in our youth, we invest in their communities and most importantly, we directly invest in our future.” For more information about Saturday in the D, visit www. SaturdayintheD.com.

CAU junior, nation’s only college football player in fashion design

Darion “Spoon” Weatherspoon is a tough-as-nails defensive back for the Clark Atlanta University Panthers football team. But there’s something else about this 20-year-old Las Vegas native, which puts him in a league all by himself. Darion is the first and only CAU football player, and the nation’s only college football player currently majoring in fashion design. He’s just as good with a needle and sewing machine as he is with a football and a pair of cleats. And he’s known among his teammates and classmates for his extraordinarily dapper wardrobe. “As a child my mom always made me dress sharp,” said Darion, with a proud grin. “She wouldn’t let me wear shorts or sweatpants in public.” Those lessons from his childhood are definitely paying off now. He is a tailor’s apprentice at Gary Franzen Custom Clothing back in his hometown. And even though he didn’t pick up a needle and thread until he was 17, Darion said he knew at an early age he wanted to design suits. “As a young boy I developed a fascination with suits and I wanted to wear them all the time,” he said.

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His career goal to one day own and operate a custom tailor shop used to be the source of many good-spirited jokes among his Panthers football teammates. Some of his fellow athletes didn’t think fashion design was masculine enough. That was until they realized how serious he is about it, and how lucrative a career it is. It was then the jokes subsided and the guys began to respect his craft. “They told me whatever I do, be the best at it,” Darion explained. Now his friends look to him for style tips, and even to request custom creations. Besides being the next big name in the world of luxury suits, Darion maintains a 3.5 GPA. He is also a social media guru. In his spare time he manages the Twitter account for the CAU Center for Undergraduate Research and Creativity, not to mention his own robust personal account. His story perfectly exemplifies why supporting student scholarships at CAU is so critical to our mission. “I believe every young man should dress like a respectable man,” Darion concluded. “My aim is to inspire other young men to dress like me and remain a gentleman at all times.”


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EDUCATION

February 16 - 22, 2017

Giving Youth the keys to unlock their future By George Cleveland Vice President of Channel Operations Cricket Wireless

• Attendance: Chronic absenteeism decreased by 75% in the second semester compared to non-JA Academy students, and overall JA Academy students are present much more frequently than their non-JA Academy counterparts. • Reading & Math Levels: JA Academy students advanced an average of nearly 3 grade levels in Reading and Math from the beginning of the year, starting from an average level of 6th grade. •Discipline: Discipline incidents occurred 90% less compared to non-JA Academy 9th grade students, and fell 49% from fall to spring semester amongst JA Academy students. •Assessments: JA Academy students outperformed their peers in every state milestone assessment for 9th grade – Science, Math, and English Language Arts – while at the same time, the scores for the overall 9th grade students increased from the year before. The above results from are truly impressive. My hope is that the

JA Academy will be adopted by more school systems in Georgia and throughout the country. This will take time, patience and commitment. It’s imperative that every child have the opportunity to reach their potential. Until then, I ask that you join me in giving your time and sharing your experience

with our youth by serving as a mentor, or volunteering with organizations like JA. Let’s help them locate the keys to unlock their potential and passion to be successful leaders in a growing global economy. We all can make and be a part of history!

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George Cleveland - Vice President of Channel Operations Cricket Wireless

Cricket is proud to support Black History Month From our leadership to our employees, we’re proud to champion diversity. We’re committed to supporting people, programs and organizations that contribute to the growth of African American entrepreneurship and develop future tech leaders here in our Atlanta community and beyond.

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Every school year, scholars, parents, media and politicians debate the best way to educate our youth and prepare them for success in a growing global economy. The debate is often centered on whether public, private or charter schools offer the best opportunities for kids to succeed. Each institution has its own supporters and detractors, successes and failures. One point everyone agrees on is that every student deserves access to a quality education despite their economic situation. Unfortunately, public schools face multiple challenges that impact our teachers’ ability to effectively educate their students, and the challenges are compounded in economically distressed areas. As a kid growing up in Macon, GA, I attended both a school located in a lower economic community and one in a more affluent area. These varied experiences helped me understand the important role financial and socio-economic differences play on education. Hard work and dedication helped bring my vision to life. I serve as vice president of channel operations at Cricket Wireless, a subsidiary of AT&T, where I’m responsible for customer care, training and communications, digital experience and sales operations. I’m proud to represent both AT&T and Cricket. Our employees donate countless dollars and volunteer hours to support organizations like Junior Achievement (JA). JA is redesigning the student learning experience in Georgia, which we hope will serve as a model for schools across the country. “There is a direct correlation between education and economic development,” said Jack Harris, president & CEO, Junior Achievement of GA. “Through strategic partnerships b e t w e e n JA, school systems and

the business community, this model [JA Academy] has the potential to transform education to meet the needs of today’s students. Together we can bring innovation to education in order to create more pipelines to economic opportunities for all students.” The JA Academy is a full immersion “school-within-a-school” model that acts as a joint venture between JA, the local school system, and the business community. It’s designed to provide rigorous standardsbased education infused with career readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. This model ensures that learning is relevant, experiential and authentically connected to the complexities that exist beyond the classroom walls. This model is working and JA recently announced that the program will launch in Atlanta Public Schools at the start of the 2017 school year. It’s currently operating in two school systems in Metro Atlanta - Fulton County Schools and Gwinnett County Public Schools – and, the first-year results are really encouraging:

© 2017 Cricket Wireless LLC. All rights reserved.

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February 16 - 22, 2017

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD – Pick Up Locations

ANNOUNCEMENT Does your landlord owe you money? Did your landlord not return all of your security deposit? You may be able to recover the amount taken from you or more. We are actively seeking tenants who have had their security deposits taken by landlords in Georgia. Please call The Offices of Shimshon Wexler, P.C. at (678) 699-1938, 315 W Ponce de Leon Ave, Ste 250, Decatur, GA 30030. C. W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc will be accepting quotations from subcontractors, including City of Atlanta certified MBE/FBE companies, for City of Atlanta Project #FC-9504 Sullivan Road Park & Ride Lot. This project is bidding on March 15, 2017 @ 2:00 P.M. Items of work include: Hauling, Building Construction, Clearing & Grubbing, Erosion Control, Asphalt Paving, Joint & Crack Sealing, Concrete Flatwork, Storm Sewer, Water and Sanitary Sewer, Drainage Structure, Fencing, Signs, Grassing, Nursery Items, Traffic Signals, Electrical and Thermoplastic Pavement Marking. Subcontractor quotations (including all Required City of Atlanta Forms) will be accepted by C. W. Matthews’ Estimating Department in person, by e-mail: dustinj@cwmatthews.com and/or mikek@ cwmatthews.com or Fax: #770-422-9361 until 12:00 Noon on Monday, March 13, 2017. All bidding documentation will be available at the C. W. Matthews Contracting website (www. cwmatthews.com) as well as the City website (http://procurement. atlantaga.gov/fc-9504-sullivan-road-park-and-ride-lot/) If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact Dustin Johnson at (770) 422-7520 X1161. You must register a User ID and Password to access the CWM website. For additional website information, contact C. W. Matthews’ Estimating Department at 770-422-7520.

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February 16 - 22, 2017

GUEST COMMENTARY

GUEST COMMENTARY

by Julianne Malveaux

by Lauren Victoria Burke

Barbara Reynold’s Coretta Scott King memoir is a must read Every day that he holds the presidency, Donald Trump does something outrageous. He blusters, he just plain lies, and he bullies. He pushes his decisions, his executive orders, down the throats of a Congress that he dominates. Why not let the democratic process work and let them vote to build a wall and pay for it, instead of insisting, by executive order, that the wall will be built. In just one short week as President, he has demeaned our democracy and our voters, caused international turmoil, and more. But he is doing exactly what he said he would do. We’ve been here before. Remember Ronald Reagan, the President who cut school lunches and declared ketchup a vegetable? Remember warmonger George W. Bush? Remember Richard Nixon and his coldness toward Coretta Scott King? Remember history! Journalist Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds offers us the opportunity to remember history in the Coretta Scott King memoir, “My Life, My Love, My Legacy.” Reynolds took copious notes and made extensive recordings in the decades that she worked and travelled with Coretta Scott King, and she has turned them into a memoir. Completed in 2007, it has taken a decade for the book to be published, largely because of complications with the King estate. But Reynolds chooses not to talk about the complications, instead choosing to talk about the many ways her life was enriched and enhanced by her association with Mrs. King. She also chooses to illuminate the leadership roles that Mrs. King embraced, both while her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was living, and after his death. The book is a great and inspirational read, especially now, when so many have despaired at the irrational-seeming leadership of Donald Trump. It is a reminder that it took 15 years of persistence to establish the King holiday that we now all take for granted. It is easy to forget that Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.) introduced the King holiday legislation in 1968, just days after Dr. King’s assassination. He introduced it again and again, year after year. According to Coretta Scott King, the bill was rejected more than 70 times. But she, and Conyers, persisted in their efforts to create a national holiday. Coretta Scott King met with the reformed segregationist Senator Robert Byrd. She says she would have been “anxious” to meet with a man who filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Bill, but was assured that his views had changed. Indeed, Byrd supported the effort to establish the King holiday, but through a rules change, a two-thirds vote was needed to establish a holiday instead of a simple majority. In 1979, the bill lost by a mere five votes. Agitation continued after this loss. A

petition drive yielded six million signatures. Stevie Wonder released his “Happy Birthday” song that advocated for a King holiday. Senator Jesse Helms opposed the holiday, introducing a 300-page document that detailed King’s “Communist activities.” Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was so outraged by the document that he threw it to the ground, describing it as a “packet of filth.” On October 19, 1983, the Senate passed King holiday legislation 78-22, following a House vote of 338-90. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on November 3, 1983, establishing the King holiday on the third Monday of January, beginning in 1986. Of course, some states dragged their feet. Arizona did not acknowledge the holiday until the NFL moved a Super Bowl in protest in 1992. South Carolina waited until 2000 to acknowledge the holiday. We often see Coretta Scott King as a stoic, dignified lady, and a graceful partner to civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. This memoir shows her from another perspective, as a leader in her own right, as a dedicated pacifist, as a persistent adherent to principles of nonviolence, as a gritty fighter for her husband’s legacy through the holiday and the establishment of the King Center. We also see her as a mother, and can read her assessment of her children, their strengths and their challenges. While I had the privilege to be in Mrs. King’s company on many occasions, and to speak with her personally and at length more than once, this book adds a depth to my knowledge of her and makes me wish I’d had the opportunity to know the side of her that laughed with Betty Shabazz and Myrlie Evers (I laughed with both of those women, but never Coretta), enjoyed opera, and let her hair down. As we attempt to develop the “fight back” plan for the outrageousness of the Trump presidency, it is useful to consider the women on whose shoulders we stand – Fannie Lou Hamer, Ida B. Wells, Shirley Chisholm and so many others. And it is useful to remember the grit and grace of Coretta Scott King, the power and passion in her persistence. For me, this book put steel in my spine. The Trump years will be a long four years, but imagine waiting 17 years to establish a King holiday that is now so widely celebrated! Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist and Founder of Economic Education. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available to order at www.juliannemalveaux.com at Amazon.com. Follow Dr. Malveaux on Twitter @drjlastword.

It’s time for the Democratic party to wake up Everyone appears to have figured out that a dangerous, stupid fascist with no knowledge of how the federal government works is now the President of the United States. Everyone, that is, except members of the Democratic Party, now serving in the 115th Congress. You have to wonder how many dangerously incompetent, racist and blindly ideological decisions the executive branch have to make before the Democrats in the United States Congress, who are supposedly in the opposition party, wake up. What is the strategy? What is the plan? Trump’s careless staff couldn’t even spell the name of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom correctly on a press release. What makes anyone think they’ll be more detailed on other initiatives they plan such as an “investigation of voting fraud” or the selection of the next United States Supreme Court Justice? Be certain to take note of the Democrats who vote in favor of Trump’s cabinet nominees for Treasury, Education, Labor and Health and Human Services. If Democrats support Steve Mnuchin, Betsy DeVos, Andrew Puzder and Rep. Tom Price, there is no resistance movement in the Democratic Party in Congress. Senate Democrats have unified against exactly zero of Trump’s cabinet nominees. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) who is allegedly a progressive leader, voted in favor of Dr. Ben Carson to lead a department he has no qualifications to run. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who has great Instagram posts of food, voted with Republicans to raise prescription drug prices. Senators who have no re-election fears whatsoever in 2018 are lying down and showing no signs of resisting Trump when the easiest show of resistance is a simple “thumbs down” on the Senate floor. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who took over as Democratic Leader from retired Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), so far, has decided to vote in favor of almost all of Trump’s nominees. What makes this even more confusing is that the messaging of Democratic leaders is the opposite of the action. The Democratic Party is at it’s lowest point in four decades in terms of seats held in the U.S. House of Representatives, governors’ houses and seats in state legislatures. With Trump’s arrival and no strategy to be seen, there has never been a better argument for younger and newer leadership. The decision between Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and former Labor Secretary Tom Perez for Democratic National Committee Chair will be a crucial benchmark for the party. Over a million people took to the streets to participate in marches around the world, the day after Trump’s Inauguration, which

drew far lower numbers than President Obama’s historic inauguration in 2009, with the Trump that needed to see resistance. There were protests in the streets of Washington on inauguration day. Thousands figured out there needed to be resistance to Trump before he took office, but Democrats standing on the floor of the U.S. Senate and House remain asleep. Last weekend, Trump signed an executive order that blocked entry of all refugees to the U.S. for 120 days and barred Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. indefinitely. The order also blocked entry to anyone from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — all Muslim majority countries. After confusion and protest at several major airports across the U.S., federal Judge Ann Donnelly granted a temporary stay so those in transit taken into custody could continue their travels. On the evening on January 28, after a day of learning how airheaded and careless the Trump administration conducts itself, it was learned that Trump had installed his racist, anti-Semitic political advisor Steve Bannon as a member of the National Security Council (NSC). The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, four-star Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford was removed from the NSC. This happened a day after the Trump White House released a Holocaust Remembrance Day statement that omitted the words “Jewish” or “Jews” from it and avoided mentioning that of one of the worst mass murders in history happened because of the faith of the victims. Then Trump officials doubled down on January 28, saying that not mentioning Jewish people was intentional because “others were killed too.” On the day of Barack Obama’s first inauguration on January 20, 2009, top Republicans met for dinner to discuss strategy against his agenda. That strategy was eight years of obstruction against Obama’s agenda and it worked. Whether Democrats in the Senate and House like it or not, they are the first line of defense against the Trump Administration. The careless refugee executive order was issued on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Trump will select a Supreme Court nominee this week. He will go after voting rights. Have Democrats seen enough yet? If so, they need to stop crying over their election loss and start playing better defense. Lauren Victoria Burke is a political analyst who speaks on politics and African American leadership. She is also a frequent contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com. Connect with Lauren by email at LBurke007@ gmail.com and on Twitter at @LVBurke.

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February 16 - 22, 2017

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