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Georgia’s 1st school for LGBT students P. 3

Ramsey Lewis and ‘The In Crowd’ at the Rialto P. 8

Volume 88 • Issue 23

Trumpet Awards 2016:

Inspiring informing and exceptional

MLK Day at Ebenezer Baptist Church P.9 January 14-20, 2016

January 14 - 20, 2016

COVER STORY

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The Trumpet Awards: ‘Trumpet’-ing black excellence

Xernona Clayton founded Trumpet Awards to inspire blacks and inform whites to vast contributions of blacks to this country.

By Terry Shropshire It is impossible to walk out of the headquarters of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. in downtown Atlanta without taking a little of the atmosphere with you. It is a visually stunning edifice, a testament to black excellence over the past 24 years of the show’s existence, and beyond. Each room is like a cathedral that testifies to the vast and unending contributions of people of color to American history and world development. And that’s what Trumpet Awards Foundation founder and CEO Xernona Clayton says the Trumpet Awards is all about. The Trumpet Awards weekend was created to pay homage to the accomplishments of black Americans who have succeeded against nearly insurmountable barriers. Special recognition is given to the few — who symbolize the many — who have overcome the ills of racism and poverty and achieved special greatness. “When you work with a man like Dr. [Martin Luther] King, you learn things that you don’t necessarily learn in a book,” said Clayton, who was an assistant to MLK during the Civil Rights Movement. “But they’re life lessons, things that will lead you a long way. He used to [talk] about the hatred that we used to face in this country that was so prevalent, violence was all around and injustice is rampant. He said ‘I just don’t’ believe that all white people hate just because they love to hate.’ He said ‘I believe that some people hate us just because they don’t’ know us.’ If they knew us, he believed it would illuminate some of that feeling.’” Xernona Clayton’s previous boss, Turner Broadcasting Systems and CNN founder, Ted Turne, also inspired her to help tell the stories of black people in a way that had great dignity and sophistication. “When I started with [Turner and CNN founder) Ted Turner, his greatest regret was that he never met Dr. King, and he and others would come to my office and say ‘tell me about Dr. King.’ They wanted to know

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everything about Dr. King. They had this affinity for Dr. King. I started thinking ‘here’s a white man who was living what Dr. King was talking about,’” she said. “He didn’t hate black people. He knows what we’ve done. And maybe that’s why he was so fluid and so open, because he knew what we had done. And then I could see it in reality in Ted Turner. And I said ‘hmmm, I’d like to do something that Dr. King talked about, to help illuminate the minds of the public. So that was my motivation, to put into practice what Dr. King was preaching.” While the mainstream media remained overly fixated on the 25 percent of black men who have some affiliation with the American penal system, Clayton masterminded a vast platform that would showcase the accomplishments of black men and women who have significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of life in this country. Ergo, the idea of an awards program was born, and she knew the right instrument to herald the news. “The Trumpet,” she said. “The trumpet is a beautiful instrument. It has a dignity. It’s slick. It’s long. And one thing about a trumpet: you have to hear it, unless you’re muted. If you blow it, everyone is going to hear it. I want to blare [out] these black contributions.” This year, the 24th annual Trumpet Awards will feature The Best Man actress Nia Long host the upscale, black-tie ceremony at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 23. In addition, the 2016 Trumpet Awards will air on Bounce TV and nationally in over 75 markets.

Among the prestigious list of individual honorees at the 2016 Trumpet Awards ceremony are: GRAMMY Award winning and platinum-selling artist Ne-Yo, who will be presented with The Visionary Award; television and film producer Will Packer, who will be honored with the Entertainment Award; legendary comedian and actor George Wallace will receive the Legend Award and Alicia Boler-Davis, EVP and COO of General Motors will be honored with the “Corporate Executive of the Year Award.” Two days before the show, the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. will host its annual Induction Ceremonies at the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church on Friday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. “Every year of the Trumpet Awards’ existence is an extension of ‘The Dream’ that Dr. King talked about,” Clayton said. “When I tell stories, I tell of Dr. Drew, who came up with blood plasma. ... I tell of Dr. Levi Watkins at Johns Hopkins University who came up with the defibrillator, which is now at the airports, around the world. … When Americans see that [recognized] at the awards, they learn something.” The program has had an indelible impact on the psychic of those who witness the Trumpet Awards each year. And Clayton is proud that the platform is helping to change the minds of whites as well. And the power of the Trumpet Awards has been such that even living legends have been moved. “Denzel Washington told us the story that he had one check in his pocket, and he was going to leave on his way to D.C., and give his brother a sizable down payment for his house. It was the only check he had. He said ‘but guess what? I’m so impressed with what I learned here tonight that I’m going to give this one check to the Trumpet Awards educational scholarship program. My brother can wait. I can give him a check later. But I’ma give it to the Trumpet Awards now, because I don’t want this moment to pass.” Clatyon also talked about the iconic and pioneering Sidney Portier. He was coming and he didn’t like a hotel we had. He liked a high end hotel. … We’ve had people tell us ‘we’re not coming; I cannot stay in that hotel. But Sidney said, ‘Oh, I’m coming. But he was staying at a hotel that was four times the rate that we were offering. He said, ‘Doesn’t matter. ‘I will pay for it. I just want to be a part of this program.’” And then there is Stevie Wonder, who refused to even let the staffers of the Trumpet Awards pay for any of his accommodations. “Stevie Wonder said ‘I owe you.’ This is a story that has to be told. ‘The Trumpet Awards go all over the world,’ he said ‘I should be paying you!’” And this is what the Trumpet Awards are all about.

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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

Georgia Commute Options reports increase in metro commuters

ADW staff Despite falling gas prices, metro Atlanta commuters still seem to be driving alone less and ridesharing more. That’s the takeaway from a recent boost in registrations for Georgia Commute Options, a program of Georgia DOT designed to improve air quality and traffic in the metro Atlanta region by incentivizing “clean commutes” — that is, commutes that don’t involve driving alone. The Georgia Commute Options program showed significant growth at the end of 2015. November and December saw an 84% and 60% increase in program registrations, respectively, over the same months in 2014. In addition, 2015 brought a 4% annual increase in program registrations over 2014 — marking the first time since 2008 that the commute options program has finished higher than the previous year. Much of that growth may

be attributed to commuter-focused marketing — such as the “Be the Solution” campaign launched in April 2015 — as well as regional events and contests designed to boost commuter interest in alternative commutes. “We’re thrilled to see such high numbers at year’s end,” said Phil Peevy, Georgia DOT’s Air Quality and Technical Resource Branch Chief. “The team has worked hard to make Georgia Commute Options a high-achieving program, and the result is fewer cars on the road and better mobility in metro Atlanta. It’s great to see that hard work rewarded.” For a limited time, metro Atlanta commuters can earn $5 a day through Georgia Commute Options’ Gimme Five promotion when they switch to a “clean commute” like carpooling, vanpooling, taking transit, teleworking, walking or biking to work. Commuters interested in taking advantage of this incentive and joining Georgia’s growing band of clean commuters can learn more at GaCommuteOptions.com/ GimmeFive. About Georgia Commute Options Georgia Commute Options, a program of Georgia DOT, helps commuters, employers and property managers in the 20-county metro Atlanta region take advantage of alternatives to driving alone to and from work. Georgia Commute Options reports that every day in metro Atlanta, the use of commute alternatives such as carpooling and transit results in 1.1 million vehicle miles not traveled and 550 tons of pollution kept out of the air. For more information, visit www.GaCommuteOptions.com.

Georgia is site of 1st ‘Pride School’ for LGBT students

By Terry Shropshire Georgia is reportedly going to be the first state in the South to start a school that is solely for gay, lesbian and transsexual students. This first-of-its-kind private school in the Southeast is designed to attract lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and teachers is being established in Atlanta for students who feel bullied in traditional school settings. According to the AJC, Pride School Atlanta is a K-12 institution designed to be an alternative for LGBT students, though the school is open to any student who believes they’re not getting the support they need for “being different,” says Pride School founder Christian Zsilavetz. “Kids have full permission to be themselves — as well as educators. Where there’s no wondering, ‘Is this teacher going to be a person for me to be myself with?’” said Zsilavetz, who is transgender and a veteran teacher with nearly 25 years of experience, according to truthrevolt.com “This is a place where [students] can just open up and be the best person they can be.”

The Pride School will initially operate out of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta church and is expected to open by September 2016. Tuition will be around $13,000, though Zsilavetz says financial assistance is available for students who need it. It is part of a small but growing group of schools popping up nationally, geared toward educating LGBT youth who feel disenfranchised from public education. Pride School would be the first of its kind in the Southeast and, according to gay rights advocates, a significant development for the LGBT movement. “There’s a number of kids who come from the South … migrating to places like New York and other cities because they feel like it’s more tolerant for them,” said Ross Murray, programs director, global and U.S. South, for gay rights group GLAAD, told the newspaper. “They should be able to stay in their homes, their communities. I think having a school like this in Atlanta … it means it’s much more regionally connected. If a student does need a place where they can be safe from bullying, from peers who want to harass or harm them, they’re not going to have to travel tons of distance to do that.” The school will be modeled after the Harvey Milk school in New York City and other education centers across the country designed for, but not limited to, LGBT youth. Nearly 9 in 10 LGBT students report experiencing harassment within the last school year, according to GLAAD, and three in 10 report missing a class because they felt unsafe, according to gay rights group Georgia Equality. Georgia Equality and others successfully lobbied the state legislature for such a school. And, after the bill was signed into law in 2010, the group investigated school district policies in Georgia to see which districts had LGBT-specific bullyingprevention policies. It found fewer than 30 percent did. Some districts have already implemented tougher rules against bullying. Cobb County was one of the first in Georgia to implement an anti-bullying, no-harassment policy that included sexual orientation and gender identity.

January14 - 20, 2016

Mayor Reed urges Atlantans to get health insurance market plans

By Terry Shropshire Mayor Kasim Reed joined Councilmember Cleta Winslow, Councilmember Joyce Sheperd, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Enroll America, SRA International, Inc. and more than 20 health service providers at The West End Mall on Saturday, Jan. 9 to host a community event encouraging City of Atlanta residents to consider Health Insurance Marketplace plans. This event supports the City of Atlanta’s participation in the White House “Healthy Communities Challenge,” an initiative to actively inform communities that have a high percentage of uninsured individuals about the Affordable Care Act. “We are working to reduce the number of uninsured residents in the City of Atlanta,” said Mayor Reed. “It is our responsibility to ensure that all Atlantans have access to health care services, regardless of their wealth or income, and today I am encouraging residents to enroll or at least explore the affordable health care plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.” Since the Affordable Care Act’s coverage provisions have taken effect, the adult uninsured rate in Georgia dropped from 21 percent in 2013 to 15 percent in 2015. However, in Atlanta and the surrounding region, there are 304,000 uninsured residents who are still eligible for the Marketplace. “The City of Atlanta is hosting several events in January like this community kick-off at The West End Mall to ensure that Atlanta residents are aware of the resources and health plans options available in the Marketplace,” said Yvonne Coswer Yancy, Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources. “We are also encouraging residents to visit the SRA Atlanta Enrollment Assistance Center at 117 Luckie Street in Atlanta to obtain healthcare insurance and receive assistance while enrolling.” HHS estimates that in Georgia, 96 percent of consumers who switch to the Health Insurance Marketplace lowest-cost plan could save on average $57 per month, or $683 per year, on their premium costs in 2016. Residents can learn more about plans at healthcare.gov. Open enrollment ends on January 31, 2016.

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January 14 - 20, 2016

COMMUNITY

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Congressman Lewis to speak at Morehouse for MLK Day

Congressman John Lewis, one of the original “Big Six” leaders during the heyday of the civil rights movement, will talk about his experiences and today’s challenges at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Morehouse College’s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. “An Evening With Rep. John Lewis” is one of several events the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection is leading in the annual commemoration of the life of King, a 1948 graduate and one of Lewis’ mentors. “As one of our nation’s great champions of human rights,

Congressman John Lewis has led by example,” said Vicki Crawford, director of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection. “His unwavering courage and dedicated leadership continue to inspire us all. We are delighted that Congressman Lewis will join us this year as we commemorate the 87th birthday of Dr. King.” That commemoration includes events such as a CommunityWide Interfaith Harmony March and Rally at Morehouse’s iconic King Statue on Sunday, Jan. 17 while on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Monday, Jan. 18, Morehouse students will participate in service projects across Atlanta. The highlight of the activities will be Lewis’ conversation with David Wall Rice, chairman of the Morehouse Psychology Department. Named chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which he helped form, Lewis at age 23 was an organizer and a keynote speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. His political career began in 1981 when he was elected to the Atlanta City Council. Five years later, he was elected to Congress where is now the Senior Chief Deputy Whip for the Democratic Party leadership in the House. Lewis has a slew of honors and awards, including the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President Barack Obama in 2010.

International Civil Rights Walk of Fame announces 2016 inductees

By Bunnie Jackson-Ransom Footprints of six new esteemed civil rights icons will be added to the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame during the 2016 Trumpet Awards festivities. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The ceremonial host for this year’s occasion will be Danny Bakewell, a Trumpet Awards Foundation Board Member. The program and unveiling of the footprints are free and open to the public. The 2016 honorees in this prominent group include Dr. Amelia Boynton Robinson (posthumously), a civil rights activist from the Selma movement who was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Medal in 1990; Dr. JamalHarrison Bryant, a philanthropist, author, motivational speaker, founder and pastor of the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore; Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, the Friendship-West Baptist Church Pastor who is also a committed community activist who formed alliances with local leaders and Dallas city officials to fight violence; Rev. Dr. Jim Holley, the historic Little Rock Baptist Church Pastor whose mission was the “ministry of liberation;” Gordon L Joyner, Esq., who has been recognized for his leadership by two U.S. Presidents, five Georgia Governors, and two City of Atlanta Mayors; and Rev. Dr. Raphael Gamaliel Warnock, pastor of America’s Freedom Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church where he is a defender of civil and human rights and has taken on the contradictions of the criminal justice system

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through his fierce public advocacy. The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame was created in 2004 to give recognition to the foot soldiers of justice who sacrificed and struggled to make equality a reality for all. This extraordinary display has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city of Atlanta and has enriched the heritage of the civil rights movement. The shoes used to create the footprints will also be on display during the unveiling program. Plans for the future include relocating the historic Walk of Fame. The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, now in its eleventh year, is sponsored by the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc., and was created and designed by Xernona Clayton, founder and executive producer of the legendary Trumpet Awards. “This Walk of Fame tells a phenomenal story about the legacy of this nation. It is a permanent testimony to those who have dedicated themselves to progress of our people and to this nation,” said Clayton. Many of the shoes used in the display remain on exhibition within the Visitors Center of The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, National Park Service, which is located at 450 Auburn Ave. The roll of honorees is growing every year with the addition of other footprints into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. “We will continue to build upon this commemorative memorial to the civil rights struggle that depicts the tireless efforts and passionate concern of these determined individuals,” said Ms. Clayton.

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ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

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BUSINESS

January 14 - 20, 2016

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Alicia Boler-Davis: Shifting Gears at GM

By Roz Edward Once upon a time, in better times, there was a popular slogan frequently cited by anyone remotely connected (and in Detroit and the Midwest that was pretty much everybody), “As GM goes, so goes the nation.” Since then, a financial crisis of phenomenal proportions nearly wrecked the auto industry, leading to U.S. government bailouts and the day the car as king came to a (pardon the pun) crashing halt. But recently in a heavily secured, but triumphant celebration at the General Motors Tech Center in Warren, Michigan JD Powers and Associates officials had an extraordinary announcement to make. One that would make GM employees ecstatic and put industry insiders on notice. And there would be one more historic announcement at the GM Tech Center. GM president Dan Ackerman appointed Alicia Boler-Davis to senior vice president of Global Quality and Global Customer. The appointment makd Boler-Davis only the second African American woman in automotive history to report directly to the office of the president, and expands her customer experience role from a U.S. position to one of oversight for GM operations worldwide. Boler-Davis, previously a plant manager at

Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping plants in Michigan, hardly looks the part though. As I sat across from her in her relatively sparsely decorated office with Danish furnishings and a very futuristic phone on the conference table, the relatively petite and very ladylike automotive executive made it clear while she

is GM’s highest ranking African-American female executive. Boler-Davis is only the second African-American woman in automotive history reporting directly to an auto company president. “GM supports diversity and you can see that with the number of senior leaders that we

have on our executive operating committee and the number of women we have on our board. It’s a company that supports diversity and supports it through talk in action. There may be some condescending attitudes, but when you are capable, you can change their minds. We have women every day who push through (the boundaries) and I am glad to be one of those women. “I typically start in the office at 6 a.m. I spend time looking at our current product, how are we performing, identifying the issues and analyzing our progress. I have as much interaction with the team as I can. A 12-hour work-day is normal. And because I have a global team I quite often go home and have global conference calls. “I have been with the company for 19 years. I worked in a number of roles in the plant and I worked in every department. I was at eight or nine plants over the years. The whole enterprise has to take part in order to be successful. It’s not just Alicia driving (the process). The whole enterprise has to come to the party. I have a reputation for getting results and driving change. I like to work and I like to work hard. “Our goal as a company has been to be a recognized leader when it comes to quality and customer experience, so we have a very robust goal. What has made us get better is our customers’ expectations.”

NEW

CARD!

Effective January 9, 2016

MARTA converts to a more secure Breeze Card and the Breeze Ticket returns.

Breeze Card Changes for Regular Fare Customers

The cost of new silver Breeze Card will be $2 and will be valid for 3 years. SILVER CARDS will be available for FREE with card registration at the RideStores January 2016!* (Mon. the 11th – Fri. the 29th, weekdays only) *BLUE CARDS will no longer be usable after July 9th, 2017 *Breeze Tickets Return! The cost of the Breeze Ticket will be $1

Questions? Visit www.itsmarta.com or 404-848-5000. Information regarding company, school, or university issued cards will be provided at a later date by your company or school.

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www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Georgia Power employees

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

January14 - 20, 2016

CELEBRATING A DAY ON AND NOT A DAY OFF

Georgia Power is proud to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day – a nationwide celebration of service to mankind and community – by encouraging its employees and customers to use their time off to serve others.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us all come together to spend a “day on“ by extending a helping hand to help those who need it most.

Connect With Us

georgiapower.com/community

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ENTERTAINMENT

January 14 - 20, 2016

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Jazz legend Ramsey Lewis brings ‘The In Crowd’ to the Rialto Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Arts lights up the new year with Ramsey Lewis, the jazz great and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters award-winner, on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. Lewis has been an exemplary leader in the contemporary jazz movement for over 50 years, with an unforgettable sound and outgoing personality that has allowed him to cross over to pop and R&B charts. He first captivated fans with his debut album Ramsey Lewis and the Gentlemen of Swing by the Ramsey Lewis Trio. By 1965, he was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with “The in Crowd”, “Hang On Sloopy”, and “Wade In The Water”. He has three Grammy Awards and seven gold records to his credit. Often called legendary, Ramsey concedes, “It’s a high honor when someone says so, but I don’t see myself that way. What keeps me enthusiastic and energizes me, is the realization that the more I learn, the more I find there is to know.” Throughout his illustrious career, Lewis joined forces with countless other artists to create new and innovative music. In 1984, he collaborated with Nancy Wilson on The Two of Us; in 1988, he recorded with London’s Philharmonic Orchestra

for the album A Classic Encounter; and in 1989, Lewis and Dr. Billy Taylor cut a set of piano duets in We Meet Again. In 1995, Lewis launched the side project Urban Knights, in which he collaborated with a handful of successful crossover jazz stars, including Grover Washington, Jr., Earl Klugh, and Dave Koz. In 1997, Lewis added disc jockey to his resume, hosting a popular show on Chicago’s WNUA-FM that ran until 2009. A new show was syndicated in 2006 under the name Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis and was broadcast on jazz radio stations across the country. In 2006, a well-received, 13-episode Legends of Jazz television series hosted by Lewis was broadcast by PBS on public TV nationwide and featured live performances by a variety of jazz artists including Larry Gray, Lonnie Smith, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Pat Metheny and Tony Bennett. Ramsey recently released his 80th collection of songs entitled Ramsey, Taking Another Look. Join in the celebration as Lewis commemorates the 50th anniversary of his famed breakout album The In Crowd and it’s spectacular follow-up Hang on Ramsey in the intimate set-

Reliving the 90’s with Nickelodeon and the Hawks

24th Annual Trumpet Awards Ceremony Saturday, January 23, 2016 • 4:00 pm

By Kimani Hayes

Nia Long, Hostess

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

John A. Williams Theatre • 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway • Atlanta, Georgia, 30339

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Posthumously)

Mahatma Gandhi Alexis M. Herman

(Posthumously)

Alicia Boler-Davis

Dr. Curtis L. Ivery

Will Packer George Wallace

HRH Princess Basmah Bint Saud

Ne-Yo

African American Women in the United States Congress The Honorable Alma D. Adams The Honorable Karen Bass The Honorable Joyce Beatty The Honorable Corrine Brown The Honorable Yvette D. Clarke The Honorable Donna F. Edwards The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge The Honorable Shelia Jackson Lee The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson The Honorable Robin L. Kelly

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ting of the Rialto Center and savor the sounds as this jazz icon plays the tunes that brought the legend to life. Tickets start at $42 and are available at the Rialto Center’s box office, 404-413-9TIX (9849) or rialto.gsu.edu. Group and Georgia State University student discounts are offered for this show. The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University is located at 80 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia. Free parking is available in the Equitable Deck on Fairlie Street for all Rialto Series events.

The Honorable Brenda L. Lawrence The Honorable Barbara Lee The Honorable Mia B. Love The Honorable Gwen Moore The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton The Honorable Stacey E. Plaskett The Honorable Terri A. Sewell The Honorable Maxine Waters The Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman The Honorable Frederica S. Wilson

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The Atlanta Hawks undoubtedly have serious courage. Let’s go back in time for a second. Think about the TV shows you watched when you were a kid or a younger version of yourself. Maybe you watched shows like “Doug,” “Hey Arnold,” “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” or maybe even “Double Dare.” Ahhhh the memories, those were the good ole days. At the end of 2015, Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin announced that the team will partner with Nickelodeon on Jan. 9 to give fans a chance to revisit memories of the 90’s. “A significant part of our fan base, millennials, grew up in the ‘90s on Nickelodeon and have great memories of shows like ‘Salute Your Shorts’ and ‘Hey Arnold,’ Now those fans have their own kids that they bring to the games. This night gives them a unique way to share a little bit of their childhood with them [and create] new memories.” The Hawks are the first NBA team that will celebrate the Nickelodeon’s 90’s era. Hawks players Kyle Korver, Lamar Patter-

son, and Justin Holiday helped their team promote the night by being part of an advisement in which both Lamar Patterson and Justin Holiday get slimed. There will be two other NBA teams that also give their fans this spectacular treat, the Brooklyn Nets (Jan. 15) and the Milwaukee Bucks (March 4). The trip down memory lane turned out to be a major success. Before the contest in Philips Arena the Philips Experience area was home to the classic Nickelodeon game “Find the Slime.” During the game, fans were able to watch others participate in other games such as “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” “Double Dare.” and even a little Nickelodeon theme song trivia. Kool Moe Dee, Doug E Fresh, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan also attended to watch the hometown team notch a 120 to 105 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks have definitely overcome some of the racial controversy of the past to become one of the cooler teams in the league. Reconnecting with fans and giving them a chance to interact with the team along with celebrity performances and event nights is paying off.

LIFESTYLE

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January 14 - 20, 2016

Ebenezer Church: Martin Luther King’s home then and now

By Oretha Winston On. Monday, Jan. 18, the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday, January 15. All 50 states recognize the day and use it as a day of service. The day also celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and actions to liberate the African American community out of despair. Dr. King triumphed the belief that is guaranteed to every person as a creation of God because we are all created in God’s image. Dr. King started his ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was baptized as a child in the church. After giving a trial sermon to the congregation at Ebenezer at the age of 19 Martin, was ordained as a minister. In 1960 Dr. King, Jr. became a co-pastor of Ebenezer with his father, “Daddy” King. He remained in

that position until his death in 1968. Dr. King, Jr.’s funeral was held in the church. Today, the church has been earmarked a National Treasure. The church has stood for about 124 years and is alive vibrantly in the community living out Dr. King’s dream. More than 6,000 members are active in the church family. Today community-oriented programs, including a teen mother ministry, a tutoring program, counseling, a senior’s day care center and a food cooperative. Ebenezer’s Adult Day Care and Rehabilitation Program was instituted in 1976. It became incorporated as a nonprofit health and social agency in 1986, changing its name to Inter-generational Resource Center. It continues to provide recreational day care to the disabled and to senior citizens. They have a strong ministry providing a food pantry, prison outreach, and resources to our Katrina families and other families within the community, including scholarships to students and many other individuals who are in need of assistance in the community. The current pastor is Rev. Dr. Raphael Gamaliel Warnock. He has been pastor since October 1, 2005. Dr. King’s Church is alive and vibrant. You can submit a prayer request here. You can visit for worship as follows: Sunday • Sunday Worship Service (8 am & 11am) • Sunday School (9:30 am) • Children’s Chapel (11:00 am) • Youth Group (11:00 am, 3rd and 4th Sunday) Wednesday • WOW – Worship on Wednesday (7pm) Dr.King would be proud.

Morehouse Professor makes list of top university scholars

Marc Lamont Hill, left, with renowned comedian Cedric the Entertainer ADW Staff News enthusiasts and political aficionados most likely have seen Marc Lamont Hill frequently pontificating on the controversial or provocative news items of the day on newsbased outlets, most particularly CNN and “Huffington Post Live.” The Morehouse professor is among the 200 university-based scholars recognized by Frederick M. Hess for shaping public

discussions on education. Hill is ranked No. 36 on the list. Hess, who is director of education policy for American Enterprise Institute, released his “Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings” by using eight metrics to calculate how much university-based academics moved ideas from academic journals into the national conversation. “One small way to encourage academics to step into the fray and revisit academic norms is, I think, by doing more to recognize and value those scholars who engage in public discourse,” explained Hess. “These results offer insight into how scholars in a field of public concern are influencing thinking and the national discourse.” Hill, who is the Distinguished Professor of African American Studies at the iconic HBCU college located on the Atlanta University Center in Georgia, is recognized as one of the leading intellectual voices in the country. He is the host of “HuffPost Live” and “BET News,” as well as a political contributor for CNN. Among his four books are Beats, Rhymes and Classroom Life: Hip-Hop Pedagogy and the Politics of Identity and The Classroom and the Cell: Conversations on Black Life in America. Two new books—Nobody: America’s War on Its Vulnerable from Ferguson to Baltimore and Beyond and Gentrifier — are slated for publishing in summer 2016. More than 50 universities claimed a spot in the ranking’s top 200. Morehouse was the only historically black college and was one of only two institutions in the state of Georgia to make the list.

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GUEST COMMENTARY

by Lindsay Keener

by Julianne Malveauix

Who speaks for working people? A tree cannot withstand the storms if its roots are weak. A building will not stand without a strong foundation. An economy will not prosper if the people do not share in its rewards. This economy is not working for working people. The National Employment Law Project released a report tracing the decline of hourly wages across various occupations during the socalled “recovery” from the Great Recession. Unemployment has been coming down, but wages at every income level except the very rich have not been keeping up with prices. And even as wages decline across the board, inequality increases. The lowest-wage workers are taking the biggest hit; the higher-waged workers aren’t sinking as fast. The workers who have fared the worst are often those who serve others. These are the restaurant cooks who rise when it is still dark to open kitchens to serve us breakfast, the janitors who work after the sun goes down to clean up after those in offices, the caregivers who tend to the young, the old, the vulnerable. These workers take the early bus. They nod off in the late night subway. They serve us our food; they clean our tables; they care for our mothers and fathers in the dusk of life. Yet even as the economy grows, they are sinking. Hourly wages for janitors dropped over 6 percent from 2009 to 2014, for cooks and restaurant workers by nearly 9 percent, by day care workers by nearly 7 percent. Who benefits from growing profits and pro-

Comfort or justice?

ductivity? CEOs are cleaning up. CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies have been spending nearly all of their profits on stock buybacks and dividends. This hikes their pay, much of which is in stock options, often at the expense of the company’s future. The deck has been stacked to favor only the very few. For the young and people of color, the reality is particularly grim. Those smart and disciplined enough to get to college end up crushed by the loans they must take out to pay for that education. Those who graduate only from high school find good jobs scarce. For a generation of young people of color, joblessness is shattering hope. We must demand our leaders address this. We can’t settle for Republican candidates competing over who will build the highest wall or make the boldest false promise to kick millions out of our country. We can’t accede to Democratic functionaries who curb debates to win political favor. It is long past time to demand real answers. Who has a jobs program that will put people to work, particularly young people at the start of their adult lives? What targeted programs will connect those in our inner cities with the jobs they need In each party, candidates should be required to address this central concern. Independent debates should drill down on these questions. Journalists should demand real answers and report on the differences between the contenders.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote, “It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.” Those students who are protesting campus racism need to keep that quote in mind as they assert their right to feel safe and comfortable on campus. When the protests have been well defined and include an end game, such as the University of Missouri protests that toppled a president and chancellor, they have been effective. When protests broadly address issues like comfort, they are less successful. And while it is satisfying to force a president (or a faculty member for that matter) to resign, the conditions of campus life will not necessarily change because there is a new leader. Structural racism is so firmly embedded in our culture that it will take years, if not decades, of focused work and commitment to eliminate it. Unfortunately, too many are less dedicated to eliminating institutional racism than they are to maintaining the status quo. Consider, for example, the rhetoric during these Republican Presidential debates. Or, consider the clumsily racist question Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia posed when he asked whether black students should attend “lesser schools” than schools like the University of Texas. Student activism was one of the highlights of 2015. Without waxing nostalgic, though, I’d suggest that some of these young activists take a page from the playbook written in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when protests shut campuses down for weeks. Student protests led to curriculum review on some campuses, the development of academic departments like African American studies and Ethnic Studies, the addition of faculty of color, a commitment to enroll more students of color, and more.

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“Back in the day” we were far less concerned with “feeling” comfortable than with being empowered. We wanted change, and we were willing to fight for it. And, the change we wanted was tied to metrics. More scholarships, more faculty, more student admits. From my perspective discomfort is a good thing. Discomfort is a sign that something is wrong. Racism is alive and well, though it shows itself in different forms than it did decades ago. The signs don’t say “white” or “colored” anymore. Few “civilized” whites use the “N” word, but expletives are hardly necessary when there is a coded language of exclusion. Too many of us prefer complacency to discomfort. Too many would like to pretend that inequality and injustice are minor matters until a headline shakes us out of complacency — a young man shot 16 times while he is on his back, a young woman supposedly hanging herself in a jail cell. Then there is protest, and anger and rage. Still, too little done to develop a sustainable attack on the racism that plagues our nation. Student activists of 2015 could learn from the sixties activists, and they can also teach “mainstream” leaders 21st century organizing techniques. And across generations, there must be teaching and learning about complacency and discomfort, about what change looks like, and about what people are willing to give up to get change. This 2016 election year promises lots of conversation about justice and change. Some political leaders will talk of “overregulation,” while others will suggest that we must pass new laws. Some will suggest that affirmative action is no longer necessary, while others are clear that there remains unequal access to higher education. Comfort will always be elusive in a racist society. And that’s a good thing.

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GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY Means Giving Something Greater Than Yourself It’s respect for others. It’s compassion for their needs. But more importantly, it’s giving hope. Whether donating to a food drive or volunteering your time to help fight hunger, giving back can leave a lasting impression. And just like the many selfless men and women who strive to make a difference in their neighborhoods, Publix also believes in supporting the communities in which we serve. So this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, why not make it a day of service? One day can change a person’s entire life. We all have something to give. How will you make a difference?

Publix celebrates the spirit of giving back on this MLK Day.

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