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Volume 89 • Issue 47

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Month of July is National UV Safety Month July 6-12, 2017

Atlanta’s Black Arts Movement at the Crossroads

July 6-12, 2017

COVER STORY

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National Black Arts Festival: A retrospective; a reimagining By Kamille D. Whittaker In what will likely be historicized as one of its most prescient endeavors, the National Black Arts Festival, in its 25th anniversary year, chose to honor the late Imamu Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) as a Legend — a hallowed designation shared with art stalwarts such as Sonia Sanchez, Katherine Dunham and Gordon Parks. Who better to crown a quarter century of being the United States’ largest conglomeration of the African Diaspora’s cultural offerings; and to christen the next 25 years, than the veritable progenitor of the Black Arts Movement, the Black Power Movement’s aesthetic brethren? In this long view genealogy, the National Black Arts Festival becomes only the most recent iteration in a vein of festival-like gatherings dedicated to the arts — free spirited, unapologetic, unassimilated black art. Formally named black arts festivals began in Harlem in 1966, and in Baraka’s Newark in 1967, bracketing an era of both tragedy and triumph for African Americans in the United States.

Woodrow Nash Though Crack was on the verge of systematically destabilizing predominantly black communities, in 1986, former Fulton County Board of Commissioners chairman and the first director of Atlanta’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Michael Lomax, saw a last-gasp opening to institutionalize the arts and preserve African memory through aesthetic means. He envisioned a “Black Spoleto,” then the nation’s leading assembly of performing arts held each year in Charleston, S.C., with BAM echoes. A commissioned feasibility study from consultants in New York tabled the questions, “Was there a need for the Black Arts Festival and if so, where would it be?” The answer was unanimously, “Yes” and “Only in Atlanta” — a term that would later become the tagline for the festival. Indeed, pre- “reality TV” Atlanta was a “different” place in the late ‘80s. Though a pre-globalized hiphop was continuing to incubate in the Northeast, Atlanta had a gumbo of academic, art, civil rights,

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black business and Black Mecca credentials, real or imagined. An arts festival here, with a seemingly embedded support system, made sense. Since, the ebbs and flows of the Festival have been the stuff of institutional lore. Year after year of solid, timeless artistic programming was neutralized by debt and nagging questions of relevance by an increasingly unimaginative patron base. And Atlanta’s current capacity to nurture the artistic progeny of Baraka remains unclear: Can the NBAF, one with a subtly more corporate complexion than its forbearers, continue to survive, possibly thrive — and how? “There is no one I fear losing like the poets,” Baraka lamented in his eulogy for poet-scholar Louis Reyes. Struggles aside — the National Black Arts Festival pledges to work diligently to keep the spirit of the Black Arts Movement — the artists, the filmmakers, the musicians, the novelists … the poets — alive and well. Stephanie Hughley National Black Arts Festival’s first Artistic Director “There is a need for people of African descent to be able tell their own stories and learn about their own history so that they can have a voice in the present and be prepared to move into the future. So, I absolutely, unequivocally believe that there is a tremendous necessity for us to continue to celebrate artistic contributions. Where it should be is another — hard — question. Unfortunately, we’ve built our institutions in models that are not sustainable. Most of the cultural institutions that are built are sustained by people of European descent who are relatively wealthy and donors who write million-dollar checks because they believe very strongly that their culture is really important and that it deserves to be perpetuated forever. We just don’t have that yet — people of African descent writing million-dollar checks, and building and sustaining institutions through their contributions. I think the National Black Arts Festival would best be suited inside of another kind of institution like a library or university system, or something that had that type of model that was going to sustain it and be sure that it would always be there. Big corporations are looking for volume. They are looking for getting the most out of their dollar in terms of how they transfer your consumers to their consumers. And if you have a big performing arts center in your city … which Atlanta does … then most of those big dollars go to that institution; and because that institution is built on that same model, they’ve been able to build a sizable endowment that will basically guarantee its sustainability way into the future. So, should the NBAF be a part of the Woodruff Arts Center? If that’s going to be the major arts institution of our city, why not have something celebrating black cultural productions? Partnerships are not strong enough … it isn’t going to sustain you. You have to be a part of the institution, like the Alliance Theater is to the Woodruff Arts Center… like Jazz at Lincoln Center is to the Lincoln Center. You have to be a part of a larger institution or else it is very hard to sustain, especially if you don’t have a really well-known brand. So I think a new model has to be created. Sonya Halpern National Black Arts Festival, Immediate Past Board Chair It’s no secret that we’ve certainly had our share of difficulties. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, and then January and February of 2013, the Board realized that the way we had been doing things was no longer working. And as the new chair, I came into

the position fully understanding that there were a lot of people in the community that didn’t necessarily think that the National Black Arts Festival should continue. They were questioning its relevance. At the end of the day, any organization that gets to be any age, goes through hills and valleys. Everything is always changing. We reduced our debt by 70 percent year over year; we streamlined the way that we operated and thought a lot about infrastructure with our board elections. We started to do more work in terms of governance procedures and the board’s oversight of the organization. We added six new board members — new blood and new energy to a board that has virtually stayed the same for quite a number of years; and we mounted activity that felt and looked different, and was worthy of an anniversary celebration. One of the significant changes is that instead of having the summer celebration live within a seven to 10-day period in July, we expanded the format and we actually mounted activity in July, August and September. We did that understanding that it would allow audiences to intersect with us more; it would give our sponsors higher visibility over a longer period of time. We say that we are the premiere convener of art and artists of African descent; that is not a small feat. We are the oldest multidisciplinary arts festival in this country focused on arts and artists of the diaspora. The work that we do is as important now as it was when we first began. Page 09: THE SEASON: Full listing of the National Black Arts Festival’s Summer 2017 Events

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NEWS

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July 6-12, 2017

Statewide public awareness initiative targets the importance of early childhood education The City of Atlanta announced that First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed has signed on as a Champion of the new “First 2,000 Days Campaign” recently launched by GEEARS:Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students. The program works to ensure that all children receive quality early education and healthy development in their first five years. First Lady Reed also serves as a board member of GEEARS, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with a vision that by 2020 all students will enter kindergarten prepared to succeed and on a path to learn to read by third grade. “The first 2,000 days – the first five years - of a child’s life are so important because that is when critical brain development takes place,” said Sarah-Elizabeth Reed. “It is so important that parents, caregivers and community members expose children to high quality, early education programs, and good nutrition during this period. We also know that children need an environment where the family is strong, loving and nurturing. We hope that this early education campaign will support Atlanta’s children and their families.” Studies have shown that children who have a strong foundation in early education are 40 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 70 percent less likely to be arrested for committing a violent crime. Investing in early childhood education programs has also been shown to boost local and state economies, generating a 13 percent annual return on investment. “GEEARS is thankful to have First Lady Reed’s support for our First 2000 Days Campaign as a campaign Champion,” said GEEARS Executive Director Mindy Binderman. “As a mother of a child who is still in her first 2,000 days of life, the first lady has a personal understanding of the importance of setting a strong

foundation in a child’s earliest years. Champions like First Lady Reed are community and business leaders who have agreed to utilize campaign materials and tools to spread the importance of

quality early childhood across the state.” Mrs. Reed is also an ambassador for the Mayor’s Summer Reading Club, which is another program convened by GEEARS and sponsored by PNC, the United Way of Greater Atlanta and KPMG Family for Literacy. “It is so incredibly important for families to understand that they should be reading to their child from the day that they are born. Establishing this habit leads to tighter bonds between parents and children, and sets children up for future success,” added Mrs. Reed. The program, which takes place each summer in various locations throughout the City of Atlanta, is targeted to children ages birth to eight and their families. Each summer, Mayor Reed announces a citywide book choice for infants, a book for children ages two to four and a book for children ages five to eight to share with their families. The City and GEEARS partner with direct service programs to plan enriching programming and to distribute copies of the books at no cost to children, and schools and early education programs are encouraged to introduce the story and distribute the books to children they serve. This year’s book selections are A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni, Amari’s Big Idea by Rollins Center for Language and Literacy, and Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. The core mission of GEEARS is to support high-quality learning and healthy development for Georgia’s youngest children by championing policies, promoting innovative and evidence-based practices and building public awareness. To learn more about these initiatives, visit www.geears.org.

Emergency need for blood donations as Red Cross experiences critical blood shortage The American Red Cross issued an emergency call for blood and platelet donations on Wednesday as donations are being sent to hospitals faster than they are coming in. In fact, donations have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations than what is needed. “The decline in summer donations is causing a significant draw-down of our overall blood supply, and we urgently need people to give now to restock hospital shelves and help save lives,” said Shaun Gilmore, president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Every day, patients recovering from accidents or those receiving treatments for cancer or blood disorders rely on lifesaving blood products regardless of the season.” The blood shortage is compounded around Independence Day due to many fewer blood drives, which are hosted by volunteer sponsors. With many on vacation, sponsors hold fewer blood drives at their business, place of worship, or community gathering. Nearly 700 fewer blood drives were held the week of July 4th than an average week which is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting blood donations at any blood drives for more than an entire day. While officials acknowledge that blood or platelet donation can be intimidating as one of the reasons people admit to never giving blood is their fear of needles, the organization

is faced with the reality that every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. The Red Cross said it needs to collect nearly 14,000 blood donations every day for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country and has added about 25,000 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to help accommodate an influx of donors. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

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NEWS

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City of Atlanta Recognized for Leadership in Solar Energy Growth by the U.S. Department of Energy

Atlanta is a national leader in advancing solar energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. And because of its actions to attract solar business and solar industry investment, as well as generate economic development and local jobs, The U.S. Department of Energy named the City of Atlanta as a SolSmart Gold designee. SolSmart is a national designation and technical assistance program that recognizes leading solar communities and empowers additional communities to expand their local solar markets. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, the program aims to cut red tape, drive greater solar deployment and make it possible for more American homes and businesses to access solar energy. Through the SunShot Initative, the Energy Department supports efforts by private companies, universities and national laboratories to drive

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BUSINESS

July 6-12, 2017

Wealth-building through the generations By Keith Laing

down the cost of solar electricity. “The City of Atlanta is proud to receive the SolSmart Gold designation and be recognized nationally for adopting programs and practices that make it faster, easier and cheaper for everyone to go solar,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “Solar energy is the path forward for renewables in Atlanta, and we are committed to implementing programs and establishing policy which promote solar energy growth.” To achieve designation, the City took a series of steps to reduce costs associated with solar planning and zoning; permitting; financing; customer acquisition; and installation labor. These costs represent nearly two-thirds of the total price of an installed residential system, and reducing such expenses leads to savings to consumers. The City also recently launched the “Solar for All” initiative to provide solar power as an alternative energy source for the community of Atlanta. “By actively engaging with SolSmart’s technical assistance program, we will address local barriers associated with access to solar energy which will help foster the growth of strong local solar markets,” said Stephanie Stuckey, chief resilience officer for the City of Atlanta. “We look forward to this vital resource and partnership.” The SolSmart designation team, led by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), evaluates communities and awards them points based on the actions they take to reduce soft costs and other barriers to solar. Communities that take sufficient action are designed either gold, silver, or bronze. To date, 58 communities have achieved one of the three designations.

Gilead Sciences makes lead gift for HIV/AIDS clinic modernization Gilead Sciences, last week, made a $2 million donation to the Grady Health Foundation that will help fund a comprehensive renovation of Grady Health System’s Ponce de Leon Center, which houses one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive programs for the treatment of advanced HIV and AIDS. The donation underscores an ongoing partnership between Grady and Gilead to address the needs of people living with HIV. “Grady has been on the front lines of HIV and AIDS treatment and research since the early 1990s and continues to lead the fight against this disease, which has reached epidemic proportions in Atlanta and throughout the south,” said John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health System. One in four patients with HIV in Georgia receives treatment at Grady, including adult men and women as well as young children. The Ponce de Leon Center provides multidisciplinary support for patients including testing, diagnosis, primary care, acute care, dental care, and mental and behavioral health services. Gilead’s leadership gift supports a planned $23 million renovation that will allow for more efficient delivery of services and increase the clinic’s capacity so that Grady can meet increasing demand with innovative, patient-centered programs. “Gilead and Grady share the goal of providing life-saving care for patients living with HIV and AIDS. Given its location at the epicenter of the current HIV epidemic in the southeast, we are confident that this investment in the future of the Ponce de Leon Center will allow Grady to have an even greater impact on the care received by thousands of people in the region,” added Gregg Alton, executive vice president, Corporate and Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences. The Ponce de Leon Center was first opened in 1993 and today serves 6,000 patients annually from a 20-county area including Fulton and

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DeKalb, which have the highest prevalence of HIV in Georgia and are among the highest in the United States. Research at the Ponce de Leon Center is conducted in partnership with The Center for AIDS Research at Emory.

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Financial wisdom comes in stages, and if there was an instruction guide that detailed what you should do with your money and when, then, perhaps, the statistics wouldn’t be so staggering. According to a recent survey by Argosy Research, conducted for Ariel Mutual Funds and Charles Schwab Corporation, African Americans earning $50,000 or more annually average half of the total savings of similarly situated. Blacks average $48,000 in savings, while whites average $100,000. More generally, by their early forties, blacks have saved $11,000 for retirement, compared with $48,000 for whites. Making matters worse, blacks tend to invest less. The study found that 76 percent of whites own stocks or mutual funds, but only 57 percent of blacks do. And those numbers do not figure to improve with the national economy screeching to a halt, but they should, says Merrill Lynch financial advisor George Peterson. Peterson is confident that the economic troubles of the present will soon be memories of yesteryear. “History has shown that [the economy] will balance out,” he says. That’s why he counsels his clients who aim to build wealth to start saving as early as possible. Here’s how those who know best suggest you and your peers — however old you are — approach wealth building. Just Starting Out: 20- and 30-Somethings “The younger you start, the more diverse markets you are going to experience,” Peterson says. “When you start saving later, you have fewer years to let the market cycles run their natural course.” Another advantage of beginning to wealth build early is the ability to be more aggressive, Peterson adds. Young savers can invest more in lucrative stocks rather than reliable bonds. That’s why wise young investors will have as much equity in their portfolio as possible. “Individuals in their 20s and 30s can afford to have 100 percent of their investments in equity,” he explains. “No bonds and little to no cash, [but] they would still have a balance, diversified portfolio invested across industry segments.” Peterson acknowledges that the cost of entry to the financial trading game may dissuade some 20- and 30-somethings from even playing the game, especially those who accumulated debt in college and are struggling to gain sound financial footing. Another potential problem for investors trying to establish themselves is the cost of doing business. No matter which market they are listed on, transactions involving publicly traded stock generally involve fees. Peterson suggests buying stable assets and holding on to them. Young savers can also form good financial habits more easily. “They have to get used to paying themselves first, like any other bill,” he says. “They need to build discipline. If a 24-year-old saves $100 a month for 12 years, they have $12,000. If they invest that in stocks and never touch it until they are 65, that person would have $250,000.” Halfway There: 40-Plus The approach to wealth building in the 40s is not much different for people half that age, claims Troy Young, Financial Planning Advisory Services partner.

“If you are anywhere from 20 to 40, and in some cases 50 [years of age], you are still in the accumulation [of wealth] phase,” explains Young. “While you are accumulating, you are trying to eliminate debt, save for emergencies and take a long-term view on investment, whether that’s putting money into your 401(k) or an IRA.” Provided through employers, 401(k) are retirement plans that allow workers to save for retirement with taxes deferred until withdrawal, while Investment Retirement Accounts, are typically private accounts that provide similar tax shelters. Simmons recommends investing up to 20 percent in your company’s 401(k). “The benefit to you is ‘free’ money from your company match and less taxes to pay the IRS,” she says. An even better financial move, is contributing to your IRA. “If you are in the income range to contribute to a Roth or IRA, I would recommend you contribute the max each year,” she suggests. “The advantage is tax deferred for IRA Traditional, and more investment choices to choose than what you have in your 401(k). ”Simmons recommends those who cannot afford to maximize their IRA investment at least strive for their company’s match amount. Many companies do not match 401(k) contributions. In this case, it’s still important to save because the benefits of pre-tax saving outweigh the notion of not saving at all, or saving with money that has already been taxed. The Golden Years: 50 and up Simmons says that clients who are still aiming to accumulate and even manage wealth later should follow the same strategies as their younger counterparts, but should be prepared to contribute more money per year to investing in order to achieve their goals. However, those who have successfully executed accumulation by age 50 move into a new phase of wealth management: maintenance. Young says staying financially comfortable is often just as hard, if not more so, than becoming financially sound. He advises clients in this phase to play their finances smart, encouraging them to consider bonds in lieu of volatile stocks. “You want to maintain a diversified portfolio that is not taking too much risk, so you want to have a smaller percentage of equity than when you are in the accumulation phase, but you have to have some exposure to equity to offset against inflation and taxes.” He adds, however, that it is possible to begin saving in your 60s, as well. “It’s never too late to start saving, but it’s all about defining wealth,” he says. “If you are 80 years old, wealth to you might be paying for all your medicine. Wealth building has become such a common term; it is really about defining goals for yourself and working to achieve them. But, the goals need to be realistic.” Simmons contends that those who have been successful at wealth building need to follow it up with plans for what to do with the money they have saved. “If you have accumulated investable assets, you may want to start a dividend strategy,” she recommends. “If you have not accumulated any assets, then you will need to start aggressively budgeting so that you can contribute more to your retirement accounts and other accounts outside retirement.”

Pending retirees, she suggests, should determine at what age they will need to begin accessing their money to continue living comfortably after work. In most cases, distribution can begin at age 59 ½. “They have to look at what is needed for retirement. How much are they making now? How much are they spending? That’s where you find a strategy to reach that goal.”

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POLITICS Department of Watershed Management warns Trump’s Civil Rights division pick critical residents about community water testing flyer of EEOC, Fair Pay Restoration Act

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July 6-12, 2017

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The of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is sounding the alarm about notices stating the agency will be conducting community water tests in some Atlanta neighborhoods. The agency said the city did not send out this announcement, which asked residents to complete a survey and provide a water sample for testing. Atlanta Watershed states it did not authorize any company to collect water samples on its behalf, and does not utilize this procedure when testing is necessary. “We advise our residents to be on

alert for potentially misleading communications and to be cautious about providing personal information and access to your homes to unknown sources,” said Watershed Management Commissioner Kishia L. Powell. “The city of Atlanta standards for testing the drinking water we supply to more than 1.2 million people each day exceeds required federal regulations, and we never engage third-parties to conduct such testing.” Residents who have completed the form and received sample results should contact ATL 311 at 404-546-0311.

City workers receive a minimum wage hike The City of Atlanta will raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next two fiscal years, starting with an increase to $13 per hour in Fiscal Year 2018, that began on July 1, 2017. “I am proud to announce that the City of Atlanta has raised its minimum wage to $13 per hour, effective July 1, and will increase to $15 per hour over the next two fiscal years,” said Mayor Reed. “With this action, we are demonstrating that the City of Atlanta offers competitive employment at all levels, and respects the dignity of all workers. I am also pleased to raise the starting salary for our firefighters, who set the standard for professional fire departments in our state.” The Atlanta City Council approved four additional compensation actions at the end of June as amendments to the $2.1 billion FY18 budget, passed unanimously. Taken together, the five compensation actions affect one-third of the City’s workforce, all of whom saw a pay change effective July 1, 2017. The City’s commitment to $15 per hour will impact another 10 percent of employees. Workers in all departments at grades 19 and above who make less than $150,000 per year will receive a three percent salary increase. The City will also spend $2 million in general fund dollars to establish a three-tier pay-

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ment structure for recruits and firefighters within the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD), bringing the starting salary for recruits to $40,000 annually. The new funding structure affects 441 firefighters and recruits. The salary is set prior to including any credentials or educational incentives. This amendment was also adopted unanimously. Finally, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and AFRD will offer a $5,000 one-time bonus for new hires with prior military service and honorable discharge or continued active service through the reserves. The City of Atlanta worked with Atlanta Jobs with Justice, a local non-profit organization, in setting the new minimum wage, which affects 360 employees immediately and will affect more than 850 employees once the full increase is phased in. “The fight for $15 came to Atlanta through our organization, supporting fast food workers fighting for a livable wage. The courage of those workers told us that Georgia workers everywhere were ready for $15. We are excited to see Atlanta restore its promise to living wages, because more than 1,000 individuals will be pulled out of poverty from this action,” said Shannan Reaze, executive director of Atlanta Jobs with Jus-

tice. “It is critical on this day that we show the nation that the South is committed to progress, workers and living wages.” Since Mayor Reed’s inauguration in January 2010, public safety personnel and city employees have received 11 salary increases totaling more than $26 million in compensation. In January 2011, sworn officers in the Atlanta Police and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department received a full step pay increase of 3.5 percent, the first full step increase granted since 2007. In 2013, sworn personnel received two additional pay increases, for a total of 5.5 percent in increases. The Administration has consistently made notable investments in employee compensation and benefits. In the midst of the worst economic recession in 80 years, the Administration eliminated furloughs and layoffs citywide, built the largest fire department to date and eliminated staffing shortages on fire trucks, brought the city’s police force to 2,000 officers for the first time in the department’s history, and restored command staff at the city jail. Earlier this year, Mayor Reed made the City of Atlanta the first local government in the state to offer up to six weeks’ paid parental leave for primary caregivers and up to two weeks for secondary caregivers.

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“In keeping with state guidelines, we are sending the notices to registered voters who have moved within the county over the past 2 years and did not update their voter registration information when they moved,” said Richard Barron, director of Fulton County Registration and Elections. “Only residents who completed a NCOA form will receive a letter.” The Registration Department receives the list of voters needing to get a Confirmation Notice from the Secretary of State’s office and is required to mail out notices every other odd year based on the criteria listed above. “In total, we are sending 48,954 notices and we encourage everyone who receives a notice to validate the information and return to us to make sure their registration information is updated,” Barron said. Voters will also receive a postage paid envelope to return their notices.

July 6-12, 2017

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More than 45,000 registered voters who have submitted a National Change of Address (NCOA) Notice to the U. S. Post Office during the last two years will be receiving Confirmation Notices from the Fulton Department of Registration and Elections to confirm their current addresses. Recipients will have 30 days to return their confirmations or risk having their voter status changed to “Inactive.” According to state guidelines, voters are to receive a Confirmation Notice if: •first class mail sent to the voter from the department was returned undelivered •the voter has not contacted the Fulton County Registration office or voted for three consecutive years or •the voter’s address in the voter registration file does not match the NCOA database

tecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. This bill would have reversed the Supreme On June 29, President Donald Trump Court’s 2009 decision in Gross v. FBL Finannominated Eric S. Dreiband to be the Assis- cial Services, which placed a greater burden on tant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the workers to prove age discrimination under the Department of Justice. Created by the Civil Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Rights Act of 1957, the Civil Rights Division is In 2014, Dreiband testified in support of charged with upholding “the civthree bills that would have reil and constitutional rights of all stricted the EEOC’s ability to enAmericans, particularly some of force Title VII. The bills imposed the most vulnerable members of new requirements to file litigation, our society.” The Division’s work and narrowed EEOC guidance includes, among other things, en— known as the “ban-the-box” forcing federal antidiscrimination guidance — that ensures employlaws, investigating civil rights viers do not unlawfully discriminate olations by police departments, against Black and Latino job appliprosecuting and preventing hate cants through the use of criminal crimes, protecting voting rights, history checks. Dreiband also atand ensuring equal access to tacked that guidance in an article housing and education. The Civil he co-authored in Forbes. There, Rights Division, in other words, he mischaracterized the EEOC’s is responsible for protecting and Eric S. Dreiband effort to fight race discrimination building upon our hard-fought as taking the position that “prior progress to become a more inclusive and just convictions for murder, rape, and theft are not society, and it requires a leader with a proven relevant considerations in assessing competing commitment to those ideals. applicants,” when in fact, based on longstandDreiband is a partner in the Washington, ing judicial precedent, the guidance provides D.C. office of Jones Day, and has previously that employers can consider criminal conduct worked for the law firms of Akin Gump and in a way that is “job related and consistent with Mayer, Brown & Platt. He took a three-year hi- business necessity.” atus (1997 to 2000) from his position at MayDreiband has often criticized the EEOC er Brown to work for Independent Counsel for a strategy of “sue first, ask questions later,” Kenneth Starr on the Whitewater real estate including in congressional testimony, an opprosecution. Under President George W. Bush, ed, and a Supreme Court amicus brief filed on Dreiband served as general counsel of the behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. In each Equal Employment Opportunity Commission instance, he used this claim to argue that the (EEOC) from 2003 to 2005, and as the depu- EEOC’s enforcement authority should be narty administrator of the Department of Labor’s rowed. Wage and Hour Division from 2002 to 2003. Dreiband’s nomination continues the Trump In 2008, Dreiband testified against the bi- administration’s disturbing trend of retreating partisan Fair Pay Restoration Act. The bill, in- from — if not outright undermining — funtended to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision damental civil rights priorities. He has devoted in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Com- most of his career to defending corporations in pany, was designed to ensure that the statute of employment discrimination cases and advocatlimitations in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does ing for weaker antidiscrimination protections not unfairly bar claims of pay disparity based in the workplace. He also has a troubling lack on gender discrimination. The bill later passed of experience, having done no significant work in 2009 and was the first legislation that Presi- in other issue areas central to the Division’s dent Obama signed into law. mission, including urgent priorities like voting In 2010, Dreiband testified against the Pro- rights and policing reform.

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WHO’S WHO IN BLACK ALABAMA

Fulton County sends over 45k confirmation notices to voters

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YourYour advertisement includes: advertisement includes: • Biography & Photo inclusion in small business section. (maximum 180 words) • Biography & Photo inclusion in small business section. (maximum 180 words) • Tickets Two Tickets the Unveling Book Unveling Reception and program • Two to thetoBook Reception and program • One complimentary copy of the upcoming edition of Who’s Who • One complimentary copy of the upcoming edition of Who’s Who

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LIFESTYLE

July 6-12, 2017

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The Caribbean After Dark

Do you have

Type 2 Diabetes? If so, and you are currently on metformin and a GLP-1 receptor, such as victoza®, Byetta®, Bydureon®, Tanzeum® or Trulicity®, you may qualify to participate in a clinical research study to determine the safety and effectiveness of a new investigational medication for Type 2 Diabetes. QualifieD parTicipanTs will receive aT no cosT:

Island Outpost’s GoldenEye Resort, Jamaica By Kamille D. Whittaker Set against an inky canvas with stars galore, Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Barths all pulsate much differently at night than their daytime tempos. Whether it’s the downbeat heard faintly in the distance or culinary aromas that saunter lazily with the island rhythms, the moon orchestrates a different time signature to set the stage for a cultural conjuring — otherwise known as the magic that ensues while the sun entertains elsewhere. Enjoy these activities tailored for the night. Strawberry Hill, Jamaica Jamaica is more than beaches and sunshine. Guests of Island Outpost’s Strawberry Hill can embark in the dark on the 18-mile night hike to the 7,000-foot high Blue Mountain peak (nine miles there and back). The trek begins at 2 AM sharp, so guests reach the peak by 5:30 AM to catch the sunrise over the mountain tops. Island Outpost’s GoldenEye, Jamaica Every month, Island Outpost’s GoldenEye celebrates the full moon with a wide array of

moonlit activities such as a poolside barbeque, a movie night, or an evening catered by hotelier Chris Blackwell’s signature Blackwell Rum. This month’s barbeque will include dinner for guests at The Gazebo and after dinner s’mores by the bonfire. La Case De L’Isle Champagne Lounge, at Cheval Blanc, St-Barths Isle de France Cheval Blanc Saint-Barth Isle de France hosts La Case De L’Isle Champagne Lounge events in partnership with notable Champagne houses such as Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon, offering a glamorous pop-up lounge for guests on the edge of the hotel’s magnificent freshwater swimming pool, with plunging views over the beach and ocean. Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort is the only resort on St. Lucia to offer the unusual outing of night snorkeling. Common sightings on the guided tours include octopus, squid, sergeant major trumpet fish, needle fish, trigger fish, parrot fish in their sleeping sacks and at certain times of the year, even phosphorescent plankton glittering in the flashlight’s beam.

• study-related medical care • lab tests

ENTERTAINMENT Hammonds House Museum examines the role of black artists as activists in Respondez S’il Vous Plait (RSVP)

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The Hammonds House Museum examines the role of black artists as activists in “Respondez S’il Vous Plait (RSVP)” through July 15, 2017. Black artists have historically given voice to the social, economic and racial disparities and systemic oppression found within the United States and throughout the African Diaspora. Featured works by Fahamu Pecou, Kevin Sipp, Michi Meko, Sue Ross, Alfred Conteh, Grace Kisa, Fabian Williams, and Maurice Evans speak to the role of art-

ists as activist, storytellers, truth seekers and critics. The works presented in this exhibition boldly illustrate how the challenges faced by people of color resonate with these artists and the unique nature of their gaze. “There is so much happening in the world at this moment,” says Leatrice Ellzy, interim executive director of Hammonds House Museum. “This exhibition provides a space for artists to give an account of where we stand through their work. Each of these artists approaches activism differ-

Kendrick Lamar brings “Damn” to ATL

for more information, or to see if you may qualify, visit

www.Diabetes-trial.org/print ADW | 8

La Case De L’Isle Champagne Lounge, at Cheval Blanc, St-Barths Isle de France

Following the release of his latest album, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar has announced a supporting tour that will make its way to Atlanta mid-July. The Damn Tour will kick off July 12 in Phoenix, Arizona before stopping at Duluth’s Infinite Energy Center for a show on July 17. The tour is scheduled to end with a hometown show on Aug. 6 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Travis Scott and D.R.A.M. will serve as opening acts during the 17-city tour. Lamar recently headlined Coachella following the release of the critically acclaimed

Wednesday-Friday, 10am-6pm Saturday-Sunday, 1-5pm Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and National Holidays

The National Black Arts Festival’s “Season”

• study medication or comparator Compensation may be available for your time and travel.

ently, holds varying world views, and engages in different artistic practices. As individual artists, they are powerful storytellers. As a collective, they can be powerful healers at a time when a particular salve is required.”

July 6-12, 2017

album, “Damn.” The album, which features the lead single “Humble,” debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on April 28. Visit AXS.com and InfiniteEnergyCenter.com to purchase tickets to the Duluth show.

On July 8th, the National Black Arts Festival will kick off “The Season” beginning with the annual Gala, now in its 25th year. 2017 NBAF GALA Saturday, July 8, 2017 | 7 p.m. Venue: Flourish The premier event of the summer social season, the 2017 Gala spotlight World Music and will honor trailblazers, luminaries and emerging stars in world music. The hallmarks of the annual gala are lively music and great performances, a silent auction of unique items presented in a spectacular venue where hundreds of our supporters and fun-loving patrons come together to celebrate and to sustain NBAF’s operations, programs and rich cultural legacy. FAMILY DAY/CULTURE FESTIVAL Date: Saturday, September 23, 2017 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Venue: Stage @ Auburn Avenue Historic District Presented as part of the 2nd annual Family Day/Culture Fest programming, “Celebrating World Music, The Best of Atlanta” Spotlight Series will include musical performances in a variety of genres, including African drumming, Afrobeat, Caribbean steel pan, reggae, soca and calypso, Afro-Cuban jazz, among other forms of music that have emerged from African musical traditions. These traditions have flourished not only in Atlanta but in North America, the Caribbean, the African Diaspora and spread throughout the world. A master class by a member of the performing group will be scheduled pre or post performance during the day. FILM SERIES/SCREENING Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 | 3 p.m. Venue: Emory University A film screening and post-screening conversation will be presented with film scholars featuring films about luminaries, trailblazers and rising stars in African Diaspora world music – with a focus on artists who are/have been at the forefront of challenging, re-inventing, innovating, shaping and popularizing different forms of world music.

PANEL PRESENTATION: “Social, Political Resistance and Healing: The Power of Music” Date: TBD Venue: First Congregational Church (in conjunction with the 150th Anniversary of the church celebrations) Local ethnomusicologists, scholars and practicing artists participate in a panel discussion that focuses a historical lens on how music in its various forms is used as an instrument in fueling resistance movements. One can refer back to the time period of African enslavement and slavery in the New World, during the Civil Rights and Anti-Apartheid Movements, up to the present as evidence of the power of music. GALLERY SERIES:“Intersecting Disciplines: Visual Arts/Music” Date: Saturday, September 30, 2017 | 5 -7 p.m. Venue: ZuCot Gallery The NBAF’s Gallery series invites art enthusiasts to the ZuCot Gallery on September 30th. Light refreshments provided with an exhibit tour and artist talk. The gallery visit will offer participants unique experiences that this year intersects the visual arts with music. “Popup” musical performances by young/emerging performers from AREA (Atlanta Resource for Entertainment and Arts) will feature different musical genres. The ZuCot Gallery which features the contemporary art of African American artists is located in the historic Castleberry Hill district near the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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July 6-12, 2017

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July 6-12, 2017

GUEST COMMENTARY

by Charlene Crowell

by Raynard Jackson

White House proposes $9.2 billion cut in education funding No one ever said that higher education wouldn’t cost money. Across the country, tuition is steadily rising and students are taking longer to pay off their student loans. Today, 44 million consumers share $1.4 trillion in borrowed student debt – more than double what it was in 2008. On average, graduating seniors with a bachelor’s degree begin their careers with about $30,000 in student loans, while graduate students are almost assured of incurring six-figure student debt. All of these financial burdens have been acquired against a backdrop of an increasingly competitive global economy. The 21st Century marketplace is also dependent upon a highly-skilled workforce. Gone are the days when manufacturing could provide a steady and comfortable living. From steel to textiles and more, global competition requires America to work smarter and harder. So why would the Trump Administration propose a $9.2 billion cut in education? Over the next decade, the White House wants to ‘save’ $143 billion from college loan programs, including an end to $26.8 billion in subsidized loans. Currently, Pell Grants, designed to assist low-income students, are capped at less than $6,000 per scholastic year despite the average cost of tuition at a public college for its own state students approaching $10,000 per year. Here’s one White House explanation on how less access to higher education going to help the nation’s ability to remain economically competitive. “We’re no longer going to measure compassion by the number of programs or the number of people on those programs, but by the number of people we help get off of those programs,” said White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney during a May 23 press briefing. It seems like the White House is really averse to more Americans receiving a higher education at a time when college costs and its resulting debt are on an upward trajectory. Certainly, education budget cuts will not ‘make America great again’. Two days later and on the floor of the U.S. Senate, a diverging view was spoken, “Let’s give struggling students a fair chance,” said Illinois’ Senator Richard Durbin. “We are seeing an increase in the wealth gap between college graduates with student debt and those without student debt”, Durbin continued. “The burdens of student debt are threatening the notion that being college-educated is enough to get ahead.” Sen. Durbin went on to share the story of a Chicago constituent, the first in her family to attend college, who appealed to his office for help. The majority of the former student’s debts totaling $120,000 were private loans with high interest rates and monthly payments that were just as costly. The student also felt she had no chance of

financial improvement due to an ill-conceived enactment of a bill that prevented such debts being discharged in bankruptcy. Since 2005, student loan debt, unlike other types of unsecured debt cannot be a part of a bankruptcy filing. In other words, it’s the kind of debt that could potentially follow borrowers to the grave. The Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2017 (S. 1262), introduced by Sen. Durbin and co-sponsored by 11 other Senators would allow financially struggling borrows to discharge private student loans in bankruptcy. The law is anticipated to relieve high-cost private loans that seldom come with many of the flexible repayment terms offered by federal ones. Some private student loans come with variable interest rates, high origination fees and scant – if any – repayment options. Already the bill has attracted the support of a large coalition of educational, student, civil rights and consumer organizations that include: The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), NAACP, the American Federation of Teachers, the Empire Justice Center, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), in 2012, at least 850,000 private loan borrowers were in default in the amount of $8 billion. Two years later in 2014, CFPB analyzed more than 5,300 private student loan complaints filed between October 2013 and September 2014. That analysis found that the lack of affordable repayment plans, not a disregard for the debt, drove many borrowers to default. Defaulting on a private student loan has the potential to bring even more financial calamity to borrowers. In some cases, the entire loan balance may become due in full, immediately. Loan defaults can also lower consumers’ credit profiles, preventing some borrowers from passing a background check for a job, obtaining housing, or accessing low interest forms of credit. Additional CRL research has found that Gour years after graduation, Black students with a bachelor’s degree owe almost double the debt their white classmates owe. “When students fall off a financial cliff, they should be able to discharge their private student loan debt in bankruptcy – just like people can with other kinds of debt,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Banks fought hard more than a decade ago to exempt student loan debt from bankruptcy protections, and now we’ve seen the consequences: too many students are crushed by debt with no chance for a new start.”

Democrats play dog whistle politics, too. Just ask Bill Cosby. Two weeks ago, entertainer extraordinaire Bill Cosby was handed a hung jury in his sexual assault trial in Norristown, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia. Regardless of what you think of Cosby and the allegations made against him, a jury of his peers spoke and they concluded that they couldn’t reach unanimous agreement on any of the three charges, thus a hung jury. That should have been the end of the case and the end of the story. But that is not what happened on June 17th. Within minutes of Judge Steven T. O’Neill’s declaration of a mistrial, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele vehemently asserted that he would retry Cosby as soon as possible. By law, they have up to four months to make a final decision to retry. Steele said, “We will reevaluate and review our case and will retry it and move as soon as possible.” He went on to declare: “[Cosby’s accuser Andrea Constand] is entitled to a verdict in this case.” Please allow me to interpret this for you. Steele means she is entitled to a verdict that “he” agrees with. Constand was not entitled to a verdict; Cosby was entitled to a trial by a jury of her “peers,” nothing more, nothing less. Those who follow my writings know that I rarely, if ever, invoke race into my arguments, but I would be remiss not to point out the issue of race in this particular case. In 2015, Steele defeated former Republican Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor in a very heated race. Steele made the veiled promise of a conviction of legendary entertainer Bill Cosby, the central issue in the election. In 2005, when Castor was the district attorney, he declined to prosecute Cosby in the rape allegation brought forward by Constand, because “there was insufficient evidence.” So, Steele comes along in 2015 and says if you elect me, I will re-open the case against Cosby that was dropped nearly ten years ago. According to the 2010 census, the county is 79 percent White non-Hispanic, 8.7 percent Black or African American, 6.4 percent Asian, and 4.3 percent Hispanic or Latino. Republicans have a well-earned reputation for using race to scare White folks into voting for them and are rightfully called out on this practice, but I find it amazing when White, liberal Democrats use the same tactic, liberals, especially Black ones, get laryngitis.

So, Steele used a caricature of the world famous Black comedian to convince White voters in Montgomery County that he would save them from thuggish predators like Cosby, a blind philanthropist, who was once called “America’s Dad.” Aren’t these the same dog whistles that Democrats accuse Republicans of using? In 1990, Harvey Gantt, mayor of Charlotte, N.C. was leading Helms in his reelection bid for the U.S. Senate. Gantt would have become the first Black senator in North Carolina’s history. As soon as Helms aired the hands ad, the race was, for all practical purposes, over. There is absolutely no doubt that Helms’ ad was racist and meant to scare White folks to turnout for his reelection. Likewise, Steele did the same thing, but since he is a liberal, White Democrat, there was no public outcry. Some political insiders have suggested that Steele’s ultimate goal is to run for governor of Pennsylvania; a conviction in the Cosby trial was critical stepping-stone to the governor’s mansion. It’s all or nothing for Steele. Cosby, and by extension Blacks in Pennsylvania, are simply pawns in the game that the district attorney is playing to get what he wants politically. The Congressional Black Caucus raised holy hell in 1990 denouncing the Helms’ TV ad; Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were both all over TV screaming racism; the NAACP and Urban League were sending out massive amounts of mail coming out against Helms and Republicans. These folks and groups all “claim” to be for justice and equality for all, but I guess you have to add, “if ” they agree with your politics. It is public knowledge that Cosby has opened his wallet to many civil rights groups lending his celebrity to various social causes for decades. So, to all the Blacks who are running away from Cosby, like the plague, and have suddenly come down with a severe case of laryngitis, I say that today Bill Cosby has been tried and convicted in the White liberal court of public opinion, but ask yourself, who will stand up for you when it’s your turn? Raynard Jackson (@Raynard1223) is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future.

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s communications deputy director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

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July 6-12, 2017

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

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