Adw july 9 final by Atlanta Daily World

Volume 87 • Issue 48

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Georgians split on same sex marriage P. 3

Common on purpose and meaning of life P. 6

Dr. Cole new director at Smithsonian Institute

P. 9 July 9-15, 2015

Atlanta Public Schools:

‘The Day the Music Died’

July 9-15, 2015

COVER STORY

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Cuts in Atlanta Public Schools music program devastates educators, students

Ryan Kilgore

By Terry Shropshire

Internationally-acclaimed jazz musician and saxophonist Ryan Kilgore was heartbroken when he learned of the cutbacks in music education in Atlanta Public Schools. The Clark Atlanta University graduate learned to play the saxophone in metro Atlanta public schools (Southwest DeKalb High School), and Kilgore’s prodigious talents soon catapulted him onto the world stage as he traveled the globe on tours with legends like Stevie Wonder and jazz superstar Mike Phillips. The accomplished musician has also worked with super producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, movie mogul Tyler Perry, minister Donnie McClurkin, and R&B singer Faith Evans. What’s more is that Kilgore even started a foundation to collect and give away musical instruments for underprivileged children. Kilgore says his storied achievements and his ascension in the entertainment industry would not have been possible without music education in metro Atlanta. So you can understand his extreme concern regarding music education cutbacks. “I hear the excuses they use as the reason for the cutbacks is that attendance is down. And they say kids are not interested in band like they used to be,” Kilgore explained. “But I don’t buy it.” He is not the only who is heart wrenched over the decision of Atlanta Public Schools officials to implement major cutbacks and eliminate orchestra and band programs during the upcoming year. Teachers like Arthur McClenton say they were in shock when they learned of the news. “We [music teachers] were blindsided, when other teachers received contracts, we received letters saying we were going to be abolished. We didn’t know. It just hit us,” said McClenton. In fact, instead of continuing to make cuts in music programs first, particularly band and orchestra, Kilgore believes band and orchestra should be taught as main courses and not viewed or classified as extracurricular activities. Kilgore’s argument is a particularly compelling when taking into consideration the plethora of studies that indicate powerful connection between music and learning. Musical training doesn’t just improve the ear for music — it also helps with a student’s ear for speech, according to a new study published in The

ADW | 2

Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers found that students who took music lessons for two years not only get better at playing the trombone or violin; they found that playing music also helped kids’ brains process language. The study also showed particularly strong benefits for children in impoverished neighborhoods. Meria Carstarphen, the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, took pains to counter the torrential downpour of negativity surrounding the budget cuts, as well as clarify misconceptions and erroneous statements that have been leaked. “Due to incorrect information circulating, there is a lot of confusion about the status of music and the arts in our schools. In fact, some are suggesting that Atlanta Public Schools simply eliminated all music and arts in one fell swoop,” she said. “We have not.” Carstarphen first pointed out that kids in APS are actually privileged in this one area, as it is one of the few districts in the state that offers band and orchestra programs. “And this will continue to be the case,” she said resolutely, reassuring parents and students throughout the city. Meria Carstarphen Carstarphen, however, did state there will be some unfortunate cutbacks in the music programs with 10 fewer band teachers and eight fewer orchestra teachers. But she was quick to add there will still be approximately 40 band and orchestra teachers serving APS schools.

“Some elementary schools will be sharing teachers [as they do now]. Others did make the decision not to offer band and/or orchestra usually in situations where there were too few students enrolled in those classes,” the superintendent said. “Those schools are instead using their staffing allocations for positions elsewhere in their schools based on the needs of the students. Every elementary school will continue to offer a general music program, and band and orchestra programs will continue at the middle and high school levels.” Carstarphen blamed the tough budget year and subsequent decisions regarding cutbacks due to the entire district being over-staffed and to limited resources. “Reductions were made across the district two months ago, not just in music and fine arts, to realign teacher numbers at each school with actual enrollment. As part of our right-sizing strategy, we cut 368 full-time positions, nearly 20 percent of which came from the central office,” she said. The APS superintendent continued by stating that individual schools in APS will have the autonomy and flexibility to increase or decrease investments in the musical arts based upon interest and attendance. “For example,” Carstarphen explains, “if principal A observed high interest in band over orchestra in their elementary school, that principal could choose to enhance the band program and remove the orchestra program. If principal B saw a growing interest in visual arts, principal B could decide to invest more in visual arts, eliminating band and orchestra. If principal C was interested in enhancing band and orchestra programs, principal C could choose to increase school class sizes in order to offer a more robust fine arts program.” The APS superintendent reemphasized that band and orchestra are not being eliminated in Atlanta. “We are giving schools the choice to incorporate these fine arts as part of their general music instruction, which includes chorus, music appreciation, introduction to instruments, etc. and to be the masters of their master schedules,” she says. “At the elementary level, all of our schools must provide general music, but band and orchestra are optional offerings. As outlined by both APS and state standards, band and orchestra are offered as elective classes in all APS middle and high schools. In regards to other fine arts, we will provide, at the minimum, visual arts at all school levels — adding performing arts in high school. Just as the federal government gives individual states the right to make decisions on certain policies, Carstarphen said she and the central APS office have empowered each individual school principal to continue or increase or decrease their commitment and investment in the musical arts, while making parents aware that the schools are working within tight budget parameters. “As an oboe player, as well as an avid lover and supporter of the arts, I truly understand the importance of these programs to our students,” Carstarphen added. “I will do all I can to keep them as part of a school district focused on providing a quality education at the highest levels of efficiency.”

I hear the excuses they use as the reason for the cutbacks is that attendance is down. And they say kids are not interested in band like they used to be. But I don’t buy it.” —Ryan Kilgore

Atlanta Daily World

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

Roz Edward

Managing Editor / redward@realtimesmedia

Terry Shropshire

Web Editor tshropshire@realtimesmedia

Juan Sifuentes

Graphic Designer jsifuentes@realtimesmedia.com

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

NEWS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

President Obama to commute sentences for dozens of non-violent offenders

By Christina Coleman Following his plan to rectify the “war on drugs” that jailed thousands and destroyed communities, President Obama is expected to commute the sentences of dozens of non-violent drug offenders this summer. The president, who has long discussed the effort to correct the tough and unfair sentencing that disproportionately affects minority men, will issue orders to free a number of federal prisoners; a move that will “commute more sentences at one time than any president has in nearly half a century,” according to sources. In a rare Washington D.C. twist, sentencing reform seems to be a bipartisan issue, garnering support from Democrats, Republicans, and those in between.

Via the New York Times: In the next weeks, the total number of commutations for Mr. Obama’s presidency may surpass 80, but more than 30,000 federal inmates have come forward in response to his administration’s call for clemency applications. A cumbersome review process has advanced only a small fraction of them. And just a small fraction of those have reached the president’s desk for a signature. Overhauling the criminal justice system has become a bipartisan venture. Like Mr. Obama, Republicans running for his job are calling for systemic changes. Lawmakers from both parties are collaborating on legislation. And the United States Sentencing Commission has revised guidelines for drug offenders, so far retroactively reducing sentences for more than 9,500 inmates, nearly three-quarters of them black or Hispanic. The drive to recalibrate the system has brought together groups from across the political spectrum. The Center for American Progress, a liberal advocacy organization with close ties to the White House and Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton, has teamed up with Koch Industries, the conglomerate owned by the conservative brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch, who finance Republican candidates, to press for reducing prison populations and overhauling sentencing. According to PBS Newshour, inmates should have spent at least 10 years incarcerated and received what could be considered an unfair sentence based on current sentencing laws to be considered for commutations. So far, President Obama has granted 33 commutations in the fiscal year 2015.

Burrell Ellis, ex-DeKalb County CEO, sentenced for bribery

July 9-15, 2015

Police ask for help in search for rapist

MARTA police are asking the public for help in helping to locate what they believe is a man responsible for a rape in the woods around the Indian Creek station in Stone Mountain last month. The suspect is described as a black man who is 5-foot-11 to 6-1 and 175 to 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. According to a police report, the attack happened June in a wooded area near the Indian Creek station. A woman told authorities she was walking across a parking lot near Elder Road just before 10 p.m. when a man pulled her into the woods and raped her. The woman called her roommate for help just before 10:30 p.m. and went to the DeKalb Medical Center in neighboring Decatur, according to the report. Police have asked anyone with information about the suspect to call Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta at 404-577-8477 for a potential cash reward.

Georgians split on same sex marriage A new poll states that citizens in Georgians are split on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling ruling legalizing gay marriage in the United States. According to Fox 5, which conducted the survey, they asked subjects, “What is your opinion of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the United States?” The Insider Advantage poll showed that 45 percent of

By Terry Shropshire Former DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis has been sentenced after being found guilty for illegally pressuring county contractors into giving him campaign contributions. The judge in the case sentenced Ellis to five years in prison, with 18 months to serve and ordered the former county executive to pay $1,000 fine. The jury of six men and six women deliberated for four days before coming back with the verdict that Ellis bribed a vendor working for DeKalb County. Ellis was acquitted of five other counts on charges that included bribery. Ellis maintained his innocence, saying he made phone calls but didn’t threaten anyone or take action against vendors’ contracts.

He faced up to 15 years behind bars at before sentencing. The attempted theft by extortion charge refers to Ellis trying to force a company called Power & Energy Services to donate to his political campaign. The company’s owner Brandon Cummings said he felt “threatened, intimidated [and] I guess scared” by a 2012 phone conversation he had with Ellis. Cummings testified that Ellis pressured him to donate $2,500 to his political campaign. “He said he just cut my contract, [and] that we didn’t do anything wrong,” Cummings said while testifying during the trial. When Cummings refused to donate to the Ellis campaign, his company lost a $250,000 contract.

Georgians surveyed strongly oppose the ruling, while another 8 percent somewhat disapproving of the ruling. The poll also shows 35 percent strongly approve of the ruling, and another 9 percent somewhat approve. Three percent of the people surveyed had no opinion. The automated telephone survey of 592 Georgia voters has a 4 margin of error.

Atlanta Daily World

Our Lifestyles. Our Opinions. Our News. 3 | ADW

July 9-15, 2015

BUSINESS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

GPTC instructor wins ophthalmic optician honors By Taylure Plain Shaw

his high level of service to the profession. He will be recognized for his achievement at the Georgia Piedmont Technical College is OptiCon 2015 National Conference, schedpleased to announce Mr. Thomas Blair, Jr., uled September 25-27, 2015 at the Gaylord Adjunct Instructor, has received the honor Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in of being selected as the “2015 Nashville, Tennessee. Ophthalmic Optician of the “I am appreciative of the Year.” The Society to Advance opportunity to share this honOpticianry is a credentialing oror with GPTC and with my ganization that promotes highstudents, in hopes that it may er education and certification serve as an inspiration for them levels for opticians. It also proto achieve,” Blair said. vides mentoring services to its Blair has served as an adcandidate members. The Ophjunct instructor in the Opthalmic Optician of the Year is ticianry Program at Georgia presented annually by the SociPiedmont since January, 2015. ety to Advance Opticianry. A longtime member of the Op“Thomas Blair’s selection ticians Association of Georgia, as the 2015 Ophthalmic Ophe is a former Vice Chairman tician of the Year underscores Mr. Thomas Blair, Jr. of the Georgia State Board of the extremely high quality instructors we Dispensing Opticians and the Commission have here,” said Dr. Jabari Simama, President, on Opticianry Accreditation. In 2008, he was Georgia Piedmont Technical College. “Our designated as an “Ambassador of the Year” by students have access to leading practitioners the National Academy of Opticianry. Blair who bring a wealth of real world experience has been a credentialed optician for more to the classroom.” than 40 years. Blair was chosen for this award based on

Wal-Mart’s neighborhood markets pose threat to Trader Joe’s

Imagine this: A neighborhood market that sells not only food, but pharmaceuticals and even fuel. It’s open 24-hours a day, and the prices are Wal-mart low. Now snap back to reality because it’s true. Wal-mart has now designed smaller-format stores called Neighborhood Markets, and they are an alleged threat to some of our favorites, more traditional markets like Whole Foods, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s, because they are popping up all over the place, according to Moody’s analysts. “The advantages of the Neighborhood Market concept will be difficult to beat back,” Moody’s Vice President Charles O’Shea said in a recent note to clients. Analysts reveal that these traditional supermarkets have “upped their games over the past few years to somewhat blunt the onslaught of the Super-centers,” but the Neighborhood Market is considered a “different animal.” They are like compacted Super-centers. They offer the same low prices as Wal-Mart’s giant warehouse stores, but in a much smaller

ADW | 4

and more easily accessible location, giving the Neighborhood Markets a “distinct competitive advantage over virtually anyone,” analysts write. The focus of the smaller markets will be on groceries, pharmacies, and fuel; which have proven to be three of Wal-marts most solid categories. The stores are also more conveniently located to urban centers, which is a huge plus because Super-centers are typically located on city outskirts. But according to Business Insider, traffic has been weakening at big-box stores because more and more consumers are shopping online for big-ticket items such as flat-screen TVs. But that shouldn’t be much of a problem for the Neighborhood Markets, with their focus on fresh produce and fuel. “Melding location convenience with an easier-to-shop store with a Supercenter-oriented pricing strategy presents a new set of competitive factors that we believe many supermarket operators will have difficulty addressing,” say the analysts.

AtlAntA DAily WorlD

Get Connected, Stay Informed

Facebook.com/ADWnews Follow us @ADWnews

COMMUNITY Miss Black U.S. Ambassador AKA sorority to rewind in time with Old Skool Takeover Benefit Pageant 2015

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

July 9-15, 2015

By Bettina Durant The ladies of Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated invite you to “Rewind with the Vine” at an “Old School Takeover” from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Cafe 1711 located at 1711 Athens Highway in Grayson, Georgia. Tickets are now on sale for $30. Tickets at the door are $40. Dubbed by chapter members as the party of the summer, party goers can expect music from a range of decades including the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s, in addition to a Soul Train Scramble Board, Old School Dance Off, Name That Tune and so much more. “We invite the community to join UAO and enjoy a date night, girls’ night, guys’ night or friends’ night out, dancing and laughing the night away. We are proud to bring to the metro-Gwinnett community such a rare offering … in the name of community service,” said Karan Rhodes, president, Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter. By: Taylure Plain Shaw The Miss Black U.S. Ambassador Pageant is a scholarship competition for African American teen and young women. The Miss Black US Ambassador experience is more than a competition. It’s a scholarship program that gives 365 days of support and resources to communities in need. A platform for today’s savvy, intelligent and socially aware women of color to express their educated view points demonstrate their extraordinary talents and showcase not just their pretty face, but their gorgeous mind. The crowned national Ambassadors receive scholarship opportunities to further their education. MBUSAM was founded by CEO Mrs. Patrice Harrison. Patrice is dedicated to Encouraging, Empowering, and Enlightening communities, states and nations. As an advocate for youth all over the world she has offered workshops to children in Africa, and all over the United States on topics ranging from self– esteem, etiquette, and relationship building. With a beautiful vision, Harrison was able to make it come to life as she hosted the competition for its third year. This year’s pageant had 39 contestants from all over the United States. The weekend consisted of a VIP Welcome Reception to showcase all the queens, the organization’s

UAO members are excited to offer a “blast from the musical past-oriented” fundraising effort as they strive to execute additional service offerings to the community. Proceeds from the “Old Skool Takeover” will not only benefit the chapter’s Beauty P. Baldwin Scholarship fund, but will also allow the chapter to further extend its charitable arm. Tickets can be purchased online for $31 at mkt.com/GPS/ tickets. Two rooms, two dance floors, a full bar and full food service make this event a party with a purpose and a whole lot of fun. Party goers are encouraged to wear their best 60s, 70s, or 80s outfit. Althea Lawton-Thompson, Old Skool Takeover Chairman said, “I have never before had this much fun planning and implementing a fundraiser. We get to listen to timelessly great music, wear fabulous outfits, and mingle with fantastic people as we raise money for scholarships for Gwinnett’s high school seniors. It doesn’t get any better than this!”

sponsors and special guests. The sponsors included Design Essentials, Super shuttle, Holiday Inn, Microsoft, Audi, Pageantsmart, S.T.E.P.S. , Alluring Cosmetic Dentistry, Breezes Resort & Spa Bahamas. Among the special guest was Georgia’s Mayor, Kasim Reed’s wife, Sarah-Elizabeth Reed. Also throughout the weekend the queens took a tour of Atlanta and got well acquainted with one another through group bonding activities. For the preliminary competition, all the queens were required to wear an evening gown, active wear and answer a few questions. For the final night, the queens were required to present same attire but answer different questions. The ladies were judged by two different groups of judges and were judged on appearance, their gowns and active wear and how well they had answered the questions given. By the final night, Miss Ciara Thompson, Miss Teen Black US Ambassador 2014 had crowned Miss Teen Texas, Mariah White. Miss Black US Ambassador 2014, Cearah Hamilton also passed the crown to Miss Maryland, Ebony Andrews. “I’m not sure what God has in store for us but I know whatever it is, it will be amazing,” encouraging words from Mrs. Harrison to her newly crowned ambassadors.

5 | ADW

ENTERTAINMENT

Common July 9-15, 2015

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

on abortion and how it helped him find purpose By Danielle Young

Lauryn Hill was singing on the chorus and I had people come up to me after that song was released and was like, “I decided to have my baby because that song really affected my life” and that’s when I realized that through art I could really improve, change people’s lives just by telling my truth. It’s not like I’m up here saying, “I’m perfect.” I was talking about a situation that I went through and having an abortion and it was like, I really felt the power of music and being an artist and having this platform even just the honor of coming up here and speaking to you all. I want to be able to say something. I remember KRS-One said this in a song, “You think I’ma grab the mic and waste my people’s time? Step off with that weak shit” Anyway, that stuff used to affect me because I was like, “Man if I get a microphone then I need to say something.” Music is fun; entertainment is fun, but it can also be inspiring and I feel like God has afforded me a platform to stand on this stage and I better make use of this time. I don’t want to waste you all’s time and I feel like it’s my duty.

When we heard that our rapper BAE, Common would be at Essence Music Festival this year, we knew that we had to snag some time with him backstage because … obviously! All of the heavens opened up and showered down blessings upon us when Common walked backstage. He was confident, sturdy and golden. With his acting career taking flight, we knew he’d have a lot to talk about, but we didn’t realize he would open up about the all-too-real lyrics from a song he wrote about an abortion he’d experienced with a former girlfriend. He smiled, graciously said hello, ready to answer questions that the eager journalists piled onto the floor in front of him had to ask. It was overwhelming, but Common was calm and deliberate, glancing around the room, making sure to connect eyes with each of us, if only for a moment. And a moment was all we had with the rapper turned actor, so we all made the most of it, asking him questions that lead to larger discussions. Check out what Common shared with us about being an activist, how abortion helped him find his purpose and his latest movie roles, (spoiler alert: he’s in a new movie with Will Smith and Viola Davis)! You’re an artist that’s been around for a while and your evolution has been amazing. I want to know why is it so important to you to marry your activism with your artistry? Common: Thank you. I think it’s very important because at one point in my artist journey, I discovered that I had a purpose and that purpose was to speak the truth and reflect God as much as I can. Whatever I do learn, the perfections, the imperfections speak to that. And through art, I knew that I could have influence. It was one of those situations when I actually wrote a song about abortion, it was called “Retrospect For Life.”

What are you working on next? Common: I just finished filming Barbershop 3, which I was really excited to be a part of. I hadn’t done a comedy ever really. I was part of a movie called Date Night, but this was like coming home. The story was based in Chicago and it’s being around all these great, talented actors and comedians from Ice Cube to Cedric the Entertainer to Eve to Nicki Minaj to Deon Cole to Regina Hall, it was really something for me working with Malcolm Lee as the director and I was excited because the story is dealing with Chicago violence, but Barbershop is a comedy, so I always learned that a lot of comedy is truth. I’m also a part of a movie called Suicide Squad, which is a DC comic movie starring Will Smith, Viola Davis and Jared Leto as the joker and I got all these tattoos on my head in the movie, it’s dope man. My character is on some other shit, but it’s dope. I also did a movie called Being Charlie. It’s directed by Rob Reiner. It’s an independent film. Y’all know Rob Reiner from All In The Family. They used to call him Meathead, but he directed Stand By Me and A Few Good Men. He’s a really talented director. I’m also going to be doing music for some for the projects I’m into.

“I look into mother’s stomach, wonder if you are a boy or a girl Turnin this woman’s womb into a tomb But she and I agree, a seed we don’t need You would’ve been much more than a mouth to feed But someone, I woulda fed this information I read to someone, my life for you I woulda had to leave Instead I lead you to death I’m sorry for takin your first breath, first step, and first cry But I wasn’t prepared mentally nor financially Havin a child shouldn’t have to bring out the man Havin a child shouldn’t have to bring out the man in me Plus I wanted you to be raised within a family”

APS cheating Page 3 Powered by Real

Times Media

om www.AtlantaDailyWorld.c

36 Volume 87 • Issue

Tyler the Creator’s ‘Cherrybomb’ Page 8

scandal

UNCF’s ‘Evening Stars’ Page 9

of Power ed by Real

April 16-22, 2015

Volum

Times

e 87 • Issue

UNCF’sx

Media www.A tlantaD

ailyWo

Radio le gend

re for

sees bright futu

HBCUs

takes to for HBC the seas Us

ADW | 6

Legislation for failing schools Page 3

Times Media

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

Entertainment Publishes Every

Praise Thursday Politics Business Education Atlanta Memorial Events

Ryan Kilgo re relea debut ses album Page 8

, 2015

Michael Loma

uelyn Martin/Fil (AP Photo/Jacq

rld.com

To read this article in its entirety visit atlantadailyworld. com

.com www.AtlantaDailyWorld

Page 7

Day

‘L&HHA’ cast or else

Page 8

warned …

May DeKalb CEO probe responds to

Page 11

May 21-27, 2015

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

ENTERTAINMENT

July 9-15, 2015

Cynthia Bailey on NeNe Leakes Cosby show reruns cancelled, leaving ‘RHOA’ Cosby statue removed

By Ny MaGee Cynthia Bailey has finally responded to the news that her “Real Housewife” frenemy, NeNe Leakes, will no longer be staring on the hit reality series. The former runway model was seen at the ESSENCE Festival In New Orleans where she shared her thoughts on Leakes leaving the franchise. “Well the show has never been

about one person. It’s just not what makes it work. Sometimes you gotta change it up and mix it up. I look forward to a really great drama-filled season,” Bailey explained Adding that she wasn’t surprised that Leakes would not be returning.: “You know, I wasn’t super surprised because I used to be very close with NeNe, so I knew that at some point, she wanted to do other things and rightfully so because I think she has had a great run on the show. In my opinion, she will always be the original Atlanta Housewife and I wish her well.” Bailey also revealed that she and NeNe are no longer beefing. “We text back and forth,” she said. “When I heard the news about her leaving the show, I shot her a text and said good luck to you. May you continue to shine. Do your thing, so we are cool.” In related news, there have been rumors Kim Fields could possibly join the cast, but Bailey didn’t confirm or deny the recent speculation regarding Leakes’ replacement.. And despite singer K. Michelle’s comments about negative images of Black women in the media, Bailey expressed a very different sentiment, saying that she hopes whoever joins the “RHOA” cast “brings the drama with a side serving of shade. “I am just excited for someone to come in who is a spit fire, someone who is not just gonna come in and check things out,” Bailey explained. “I don’t know who yet but whoever you are, please audition for the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ We need you!”

By Ariel Cherie Since news surfaced that Bill Cosby admitted to drugging a woman with intent to have sex back in 2005, Disney will remove its statue of the once-beloved actor from the Hollywood Studios park, according to the Orlando Sentinel. A Change.org petition was created for the bronzed bust’s removal, and Disney heard its signees loud and clear. From Change: In light of recent circumstances it is prudent that the bust of actor Bill Cosby be removed from Disney’s Florida theme park. The Disney name is synonymous with family-friendly entertainment and with Mr. Cosby in the media dai-

ly facing accusations of sexual assault with the number of victims ever-climbing, it is inappropriate for Disney Parks to have a replica of Mr. Cosby’s likeness on display. The bad news doesn’t stop there for the Cos’. Television networks Centric and Bounce TV (which are owned by BET) have removed “The Cosby Show” and “Cosby” reruns from their schedules “until further notice,” according to Vulture. TV Land was the first to pull the iconic show from their lineup last year when the news bubbled of Cosby allegedly raping multiple women surfaced last year. That total has grown close to 40 women.

‘Married to Medicine’s’ Quad and Lisa Nicole cast shadows on show By Qwest 7 If you missed it, Bravo’s ”Married to Medicine” took a physical turn Sunday, July 5, as Quad Webb-Lunceford and Lisa Nicole Cloud brought it to each other in a crazy cat fight. Recapping the throw down, it all stemmed from personal information the women shared about each other after they did background checks on one another. From her check, Webb-Lunceford discovered that Cloud was charged with battery after she allegedly attacked her husband, Darren Naugles. Complicating things further, Webb-Lunceford adds that Naugels cheated on Cloud and fathered a child. Although it wasn’t clearly discussed, Cloud hit back saying that Webb-Lunceford was involved in a lesbian relationship at some point in time. “Lisa Nicole and Quad meet up for a lunch date that goes so wrong,” “Married to Medicine” producer Matt Anderson said while revealing that the women met to discuss their issues before things went south. “I do something I never like to do when reality is happening … I have to step in. I never like to break the flow of a scene, and I find when these women get into living their lives in front of the cameras after a few days, they forget we are there.”

Chatting with HipHollywood.com Webb-Lunceford voiced that the background check and fight that came along with it was Cloud’s way of staying relevant on “Married To Medicine.” “She did a background investigation on me because we are going to do business together? It’s reaching, it’s really sad. And I’m quite disappointed in the way she took on this complete lie,” she told the site last month. “We were friends at the time. She is saying, I’ve read in some of the interviews that she’s done that she was going to go into business with me. I’m like really. That’s just interesting because my business partner is a billionaire and the checks always clear. You’re struggling to pay Uncle Sam. I probably wouldn’t ask you to invest with me.” “It’s a classic example of a person who is trying to hold on for dear life and afraid that they are going to be clipped, chopped and put to the side and on to the next. You see that a lot when people don’t have very much to offer. As we all know, it’s been noted that she was quite boring and I think this year she wants to say ‘hey, no, I’m going to make my mark here,’” Webb-Lunceford continued, adding, “Here’s a person that has abandoned all of her beliefs … now she’s as dirty as the mud comes.”

7 | ADW

July 9-15, 2015

SPORTS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Atlanta United FC celebrates launch

Atlanta United FC is Major League Soccer’s 22nd franchise. The announcement came at an exclusive celebration event on Tuesday, July 7, where Atlanta United Owner Arthur Blank, President Darren Eales, Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber officially revealed the team name, logo and colors. The event, held for members of the Atlanta United Founder’s Club, took place at the SOHO Lounge in midtown Atlanta. Over 4,000 fans were in attendance including city officials, celebrities and professional sports figures. The event was emceed by Rachel Bonnetta, host of MLSsoccer.com. The event began with fanfare courtesy of the soccer supporters group Terminus Legion. Blank took the stage to drums rolling and chants of “Uncle Arthur.” “Tonight represents a milestone moment for our city, for our club and for soccer fans across the region,” Blank said. “It’s the next step in the journey toward 2017 for Atlanta United, and we are ready to make our mark in MLS and in global soccer. “When we announced the club in 2014, I promised three things: to put a winning team

on the field, to provide a great match day experience for our fans, and to entrench this club into the community. We’re on our way to fulfilling those promises, and I look forward to sharing the excitement of building this club

with our incredible supporters.” The highlight of the event came when the official club name, logo and colors were revealed through a video narrated by renowned soccer commentator Jon Champion.

Atlanta United President Darren Eales described the significance of the name and logo. “The word ‘United’ has long been associated with the beautiful game around the world,” said Eales. “It has particular resonance for Atlanta, as a transport hub in the Southeast, as a multi-cultural, international city and as a club committed to community. “The most exciting part of tonight’s celebration is that the Atlanta United story has yet to be written. Our fans have already proven to be some of the most passionate I’ve seen, and we look forward to engaging them in shaping many elements of our club identity still to come.” After Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra closed the program, Bonnetta prompted the crowd to unfurl a large banner overhead featuring the club logo and new team hashtag, #ATLUTD.

Floyd Mayweather loses WBO welterweight title

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty By Lynette Holloway Floyd Mayweather was stripped of his welterweight world title Monday after earning more than $220 million in a long-awaited match against Manny Pacquiao on May 2. Mayweather, 38, who won the belt with a unanimous points victory, lost the title after failing to meet a deadline to pay a $200,000 “sanctioning” fee to the World Boxing Organization for the event that was dubbed “the fight of the century,” the report says. He also failed to vacate his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council titles at junior middleweight, an issue because WBO rules state a boxer can only hold titles in one weight division. “Despite affording Mr. Mayweather Jr. the courtesy of an extension to advise us of his

ADW | 8

position within the WBO Welterweight Division and to vacate the two 154-pound world titles he holds, the WBO World Championship Committee received no response from him or his legal representatives on this matter,” the WBO said in a statement on its website. Exactly what happened is unclear, but Mayweather said at a news conference after the Pacquiao fight that he’d consider relinquishing his WBO, WBA, and WBC welterweight belts to give “younger guys an opportunity.” Mayweather has 14 days to appeal the WBO’s decision. The title is expected to go to Timothy Bradley, who beat Jessie Vargas in an interim title bout last month, if the Mayweather issue is not resolved by the deadline.

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

EDUCATION Atlanta hosts traveling exhibition of Smithsonian Institute of African Art

July 9-15, 2015

By Terry Shropshire

from which everybody – everybody – descends from. So I don’t care about your race, your gender, your sexual orientation, your age, your nationality, your religion if you go back far enough, you are an African.” As the director of the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of African Art, Cole, who was also the president of Bennett College, is able to continue her work of providing education at the highest levels. “To me, it is the same thing. Through this, I am expressing my passion for, and commitment to, education. In the presidency of Spelman College or Bennett College, as a professor, they say ‘oh, that was Dr. Johnnetta Cole in education.’ But that is what I still do,” Cole explains. “That is the fundamental role of an art museum. And, of course, it is important to engage our sense of beauty and the aesthetics, and our creativity. It is paramount for us to learn about each other so that we better understand ourselves. “In a world where there is so much divisiveness, so much bigotry, so much of the “isms,” this is a museum about what unites us. It is such a privilege to serve in this role.”

Atlantans got a chance to view the “Final Look” event of the “African Cosmos: Stellar Arts,” Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art’s traveling exhibition at the Carlos Museum in at Emory University. Led by the illustrious and distinguished Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, who was the first African American female president of Spelman College, and a host of other local dignitaries, the traveling exhibit is helping to develop new audiences for the arts in Atlanta. The spectacular exhibit also promotes diversity in leadership for the arts, and illuminates the significance of cultural exhibitions in engaging diverse audiences. “It’s hard to find the language that says how sincerely honored I am to be at the Smithsonian,” Cole told the Atlanta Daily World. “Smithsonian and its 19 museums is the largest research and museum complex in the world … And, here I am at the Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian. And I’m very fond of saying, none of the other museums is about what we’re about. We are about the visual arts and culture of the only place on earth

Boys & Girls Club names local teen Youth of the Year “Whitney Stewart and all Youth of the Year nominees are living proof that Boys & Girls Whitney Stewart from Boys & Girls Clubs Clubs across the country are fulfilling their of Sarasota County is set to receive a college mission of inspiring and enabling young people to Be GREAT,” said Jim Clark, scholarship and vie for national president and CEO, BGCA. “We title this fall in Atlanta. Selected are most appreciative to our partamong eight outstanding finalists. ners at Disney and other supports Whitney Stewart has been named for their support of Boys & Girls the Southeast Region Youth of Clubs and providing scholarships the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of to help our members attain their America (BGCA) for her sound goals.” character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the Stewart and four other regioncommunity. al winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2015, Being named Youth of the to compete for the title of BGCA’s Year is the highest honor a Boys National Youth of the & Girls Club member can receive. As the new teen representative Year. The National Youth of for all Boys & Girls Clubs in the Whitney Stewart the Year will receive an additionSoutheast region, she will receive al scholarship of an additional a renewable $10,000 college scholarship from scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year up BGCA before competing for the national title to $100,000, and will have the opportunity to this fall. The scholarship is renewable for up to meet with the President of the United States in four years, leading to a total of $40,000. the White House. With more than a 65-year history, BGCA’s The Youth of the Year recognition program is premier youth recognition program Youth of the presented by Disney, who has supported BGCA Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a for more than 50 years, empowering young peomember’s family, school, community and Boys ple to reach their full potential and providing & Girls Club, as well as overcoming personal youth with access to the tools they need to build challenges and obstacles. The recognition pro- the great futures they imagine. Toyota, the Siggram encourages Club members to reach their nature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, is commitfull potential by achieving academic success, ted to helping improve the quality of life in leading healthy lifestyles and contributing to our communities, and has demonstrated a their communities. These extraordinary young strong commitment to ensuring youth have acleaders are shining examples and living proof cess to a quality education. Additional support is that great futures start at Boys & Girls Clubs. provided by University of Phoenix, a committed “What once was physical hunger is now a partner who has worked with BGCA on many craving for excellence. Through it all, ‘I will’ is Academic Success initiatives, and the Taco Bell the legacy I hope to leave,” said Stewart. Stewart Foundation for Teens, BGCA’s premier partner hopes to pursue a career as an attorney, politi- for teen empowerment. cian or college professor. By Taylure Plain Shaw

July 1, 2015

taDailyWor www.Atlan

ld.com

T WELL AINMEN fety to l debut ENTERT s water sa directoria FF ith makes YMCA bringck children Tasha Sm xed In’ at 2015 AB Bla d ste re ar with ‘Bo Rick Ross metro again in ta Atlan July 1, 2015 June 25 -

AtlAntA

orlD DAily W

Evans By Madge recently made Boxed In, City during debut in York directorial Theater in New to a filled to exTasha Smith‘s Festival AMC 25 re at the Black Film its premie American Tyra Ferg the lovely the 19th annual but e and starrinSmith, this short cess crowd. Amerque by Kim Ogletre and Antoni in the African Produced r. Fauntleroy, s mental illness of bipolar disorde rell, Walter movie explore ally in the form her son’s bipowith powerful specific nity, r dealing with it, inclusive ican commu g story of a mothe that come sheds light on The grippin all the elements there,” in the Afand “hang in lar disease nd’s ability to the rug subject swept under of his girlfrie of this oft the reality can community. a Q & A session by d in Smith rican Ameri premier was followe , and Tasha The movie e, Tyra Ferrell tion for the her inspira time direced by Kim Ogletre discuss first of being a which Smith with only dynamics al budget she movie, the on a minim us encounters antly, how the hilario tor and filming to shoot, and most import and men and four days at USC, black women experienced r affects bipolar disorde as a whole. family the black

booming Atlanta’s economy P. 4

Times Media

ailyWo www.AtlantaD

• Issue 46 Volume 87

/ Getty Macdiarmid Source: Peter is just ing skills ’ poor swimma child can face. trouble can-Americans in 2010, er of the reminded one remind was also can teenagers from Thompson RivBy Desire The world Ameri port’s Red s us with her six African nt familie ly graced that means when na drowned in Shreve two differe to save a has official Summer presence, a season parks, days Louisia teens — from the after trying The ment victims of long-awaitedof fun at amuse pools for fami- er. were found dead waters. The a, 13; and her — rough longer days and swimming from d Takeith us, 17. The the friend family include at the beach, JaTavio er of tragedychil- Warner JaMarcus, 14; and Litrelle, 18; lies. rs, Stewarts: , five it’s a remind re- brothe killed were the , 15. For others,bring. Just this month to 5 were others Latevin can d in horages of 2 rd and LaDarius, 17; and summer g from the friends watche feet of in backya dren rangin after drowning accidents have parents and ed in up to 20 Sadly, drown ’t swim. ported dead pools. The tragicded children are the teens too, couldn area, but Robinthe ror as community ves — unatten Without because they, swim,” Marilyn d helpin the Atlanta similar narratir near pools alone. n — who in water us could watche arrested again charge. with “None of adding that she has been simple marijuana “They — panRoss were left to wande ision, the childre ed, Rick County along please how to swim not just a son lament victims went under.time it is ated assault d in Fayette proper superv Somebody do not know as the me. this watch was arreste kidnapping, aggrav but mogul most cases . do rap ing re- lessly , ‘Help me, help g I couldThe s of done n yelling It was nothin USA Swimm ard on charge ic and drown felonies. having work survey by t of White childre his bodyguWright battery, all help me.’ Ross was y and allegedly got A recent , one by one.” percen s. But the aggravated er r, Janet sources, and nearly 40 Count d him, ing abilitie ule when them drownAquatic Directo veals that ing to police learn togeth in Fayette and pistol-whippe -no swimm YMCA and children can Accord saving s he bought seems minusc children have little-to property one of the worker while also percentage of Black parents at the stereotype on the with staggering to the 70 percent Hispanic says the of fight t is being held g, t into a and smash process. compared swim. Sixty percen reports. Roberts II, and bond hearin e V mindse 6:30 p.m. in the in the Leonard t WSB-T June 23 at be a shift who cannot the same worry. William al Fugitiv appearance ne presen change lives m Agency on needs to there’s someo face an initial Southeast Region ’s Office plans to Ross, bornthere for “There the Nebo flagship progra nt jail “If Prochildren y . YMCA r, the Count Safety hip is the Wright industry at Preside Marshals how to swim, County Sheriff first,” said This summe National Water of. They’re thriving film la Washington FellowsLeaders Initiative. leaders and knowsbeFayette to the U.S. the Fayette afraid ing their Affairs is trained to accord ville which assisted lly if you’re The Mande that with t young African gove their who n’t be anything ’s Young African International Force, the Fayette especia r improv to suppor sed skill, Task you, democratic to Office of a reception of President Obama should with how gram. is a life an purcha YALI in 2010 rity, strengthen Africa. ’s Mayor’s inment will host legend Evande Agency will learn social skills befores going to work Swimming itself in the arrest. Even launched of Atlanta to boxing -raised musici . Children Center long time. The City of Film and Enterta Fellows. True Storytransme- Obama spur growth and prospe Miami belonged ve, and security across anyThe U.S. reports at the YMCAusing this for a The gton Ross that once lling and or bike e peace and that in as they motor, cognitiin the pool. re, be la Washin ansion tion and the Office you’ll a month foot you can 50 Mande izes in innovative storytes administration ’s ernance, and enhanc run anymomega-m things stepping e Control and Preven cause of in- so time inside ld. welcoming you can’t time of those special Holyfie join the Mayor’ focus on Atlanta until the nts the secondy. for Diseas as the second leading n under the when aquatics is one are born, eanor mar- Atlanta, which ns, will also on that will Count This represe nicatio n more, you misdem recepti a a time Fayette elated on childre commu drowning death among childre for the d in dia Black has weed-r weeks ago the fellows was arreste earth.” pools do from jury-relatedOther studies show y. Ross also2011 and in North welcoming arrested two swimming White you leave this in Ross was in Fayette Count age of 15. 5 to 19 drown in than Louisiana 2008, in ijuana charge from ages times more often ype of AfriMiami in arrests in 2013. nearly fiveThe painful stereot in Carolina children.

Page

scandal

the Creator’s Tyler ‘Cherrybomb’ 8 Page

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

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

@ADWnews

by Real

Times

87 • Issue

Media

sees bright

Martin/File) (AP Photo/Jacquelyn

ADW

future

for

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Volume 87 • Issue 37

Radio legend

Legislation for failing schools Page 3

Ryan Kilgore releases debut album Page 8

Volume John Lewis gets chair at Emory University Page 9 April 23-29, 2015

by Real

Times

87 • Issue

Media

ent tainm EnterP raise

NeEedssucPaotion Busin

Atlanta Events

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Powered

APS cheating 3 Page

F’s UNC el Lomax Micha 7 | ADW to the seas HBCUs fortakesHBCUs

Powered

Volume

/ADWnews

Facebook.com

.com ADWnews

Memorial

Day

‘L&HHA’ or else

Page

cast

warned

…

May CEO DeKalb to probe responds

Page

May 21-27,

2015

s Every Publishe ay Thursd

Family Food photos P. 9

fest

June 25 -

July 1, 2015

Tragedy on Calhoun Street

rld.com

by Real Powered

litics

Mandela host 2015 Atlanta to ington Fellows Wash

nected, Get Confo rmed Stay In

’s directorial Tasha Smith debut P. 8

Cynthia Hurd

DePayne ctor Middleton-Do

Tywanza Sanders

Myra Thompson

Ethel Lance

Sharonda leton Coleman-Sing

Susie Jackson

Lo o ne k in si w fam s fo de fo ily r yo r h on u a ea pa nd lth-r ge yo ur elate 5

June 25 -

LIVING ld.com taDailyWor www.Atlan

Daniel Sr. Simmons

9 | ADW

CLASSIFIEDS

July 9-15, 2015

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

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

Subscribe for 2 Years and Save!

How to place a Classified Ad

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

ONLINE: www.atlantadailyworld.com

Credit Card#:

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

Name:

EMAIL: lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

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

Address: City:

TELEPHONE: 678-515-2053 State:

Zip:

PAYMENT: Cash, check, or credit card

Phone:

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

Email:

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

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

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

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

REAL ESTATE WANTED WE BUY HOUSES FAST!! ANY LOCATION ANY CONDITION FAIR PRICE PLEASE CALL US @ 404.478.9866 peachstatehomebuyers.com

It pays to advertise in the Atlanta Daily World.

Contact ADW sales representative at

678-515-2053 or lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

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

Plumbers Roofers and More!

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

ADW | 10

VIEWPOINTS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

July 9-15, 2015

GUEST COMMENTARY

by Dr. Julianne Malveaux

by George E. Curry

Rewriting history If you drive south on US 95, you can see some version of the so-called Confederate flag (there are maybe seven iterations of the flag, parts of which are still the official flag of Mississippi) is used to advertise everything from hot dogs to automobiles, some say as a tribute to their ancestors (hot dogs, really?). The history of the Confederacy, as embodied in the Stephens speech, suggests that the flag, instead, is a symbol of White superiority. No wonder the coward who was welcomed into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church had draped himself in that heinous flag. No wonder racism is so intransient. No wonder the sale of Confederate paraphernalia rose with the election of President Barack Obama. The implicit message — a Black man may be President of the United States, but this flag reminds us that White superiority still reigns. South Carolina didn’t always fly their version of the Confederate flag above its statehouse or display it on statehouse grounds. To “commemorate” the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, the flag went up on April 11, 1961. Was it a coincidence that sit-ins were taking place all over the country, with one of the most successful taking place in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Bennett College and North Carolina A&T State University students began sit-ins at the local Woolworth’s? Incidentally, the Civil War Centennial Commission, established as a federally funded agency inside the Department of Interior, (why?) could not overcome persistent racism. The Kennedy administration was forced to replace conservative commission leadership (that wanted to meet in segregated facilities), with a group that included historians. The activities, envisioned to “celebrate American patriotism at the height of the Cold War” and to increase tourism in the South, turned into a separate and unequal set of events. In his book, Troubled Commemoration:

The American Civil War Centennial, 19611965 (Making the Modern South), Robert J. Cook describes the tensions that emerged when Southerners wanted to “celebrate” secession and the attack on Fort Sumter, while others wanted to celebrate emancipation. Southern Whites saw the centennial as a way to fight to preserve segregation, while African Americans and some liberal Whites wanted to celebrate the end of the civil war, and the government wanted to celebrate our nation’s “triumph” over division and strife. Those who embrace the Confederacy seem to forget that the Confederacy lost. The cornerstone principle of White supremacy was defeated when the Confederacy lost the war, but the continued sop to the losing Confederacy left us with all kinds of tributes to United States traitors. I cringe whenever I drive down “Jefferson Davis Highway,” named after the Confederate president. I am flooded with annoyance when I refer to Fort Bragg, named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg. The Pentagon says they won’t change the names of the ten military bases that lift up Confederate leaders. I wonder why these bases were named after these traitors in the first place. Taking the Confederate flag down is but the first step in defeating the White supremacy that the odious flag stands for. Now, in the name of the Emanuel Nine, we need to investigate the reparatory justice (reparations) needed to reduce the wealth gap. We need to take the traumatic massacre of the Emanuel Nine and use it as a way to accelerate the struggle for freedom and justice. If the Sons of Confederate Veterans are really about history, then they need to read the Cornerstone Speech and repudiate it with as much vigor as they embrace the flag. Otherwise they are disingenuous liars who would distort history in order to celebrate their ignorance.

Neutralizing the right wing agenda There’s a lesson to be learned from the Confederate flag quickly and unexpectedly falling into disfavor following the murder of nine Bible-studying African Americans, including the pastor, at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. The lesson is that the economic clout of African Americans and their progressive allies can be used to pressure businesses to do the right thing, which in turn can keep the far right wing in check. With every Southern governor’s mansion, Senate seat and 12 of the 13 Southern State Houses controlled by Republicans (the Kentucky House is the lone exception), a corrosive sense of helplessness had begun to set in among some Blacks. After all, the majority of Blacks live in the South and once powerful Black Democratic state legislators have been politically neutered now that they are in the minority. The tragedy in Charleston may have provided us with a blueprint for improving our predicament. First, it’s necessary to understand the role businesses played before and after Nikki Haley, the Republican governor of South Carolina, reversed her long-held position and advocated for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state Capitol in Columbia. According to the New York Times, “The chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, an old friend of Ms. Haley’s named Mikee Johnson, polled his 56 board members about the future of the flag. Everyone who responded was of the same opinion. He called Ms. Haley and told her: If she was ready to bring down the Confederate banner, they were behind her. “So was the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, the muscular association that represents giant international companies like BMW and Bridgestone Tire. Over the weekend after the shootings, its president, Mr. Gossett, urged members to draw up a strategy for finally ridding the State House of the flag.” There were business reasons that motivated this change. “They were tired of explaining why a symbol of the American Confederacy lingered at the capitol of a state that wanted to lure workers from all over the world,” the Times explained. “To many of them, it was a source of embarrassment that the N.C.A.A. would not pick South Carolina to host championship events because of the flag, and in the college-sports-crazy state, coaches said it was an obstacle to recruiting.” To be clear, African Americans were at the forefront of this movement long before the business community belatedly flexed its muscles.

On July 15, 1999, the NAACP announced a boycott of South Carolina because it refused to remove the racially offensive flag from the Capitol. Five days later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s old organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), voted to move its 2000 national convention from Charleston. The group “Black Lives Matter,” which grew out of the movement to protest the death of African Americans who died at the hands of police, organized an online petition at Moveon.org, collecting signatures at a rate of 5,000 signatures per hour. And social media, especially Black Twitter, was ablaze. The floodgates were opened when Gov. Haley pronounced on June 22, “Today, we are here in a moment of unity in our state without ill will, to say it’s time to move the flag from the Capitol grounds. A hundred and fifty years after the end of the Civil War, the time has come.” Within hours, a stampede of businesses, led by Walmart and Sears, announced they would no longer sell Confederate memorabilia. Other retailers fell in line, including Amazon, eBay, Target and Etsy.com. Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe decided Virginia will no longer sell license plates that honor the Old Confederacy. Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Bentley ordered four different Confederate flags at the state Capitol be promptly removed. In Mississippi, House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Republican, called for changing the state flag, which incorporates the Confederate insignia. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence asked state legislators to “clarify” the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that he had already signed into law. In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson threatened to veto similar legislation unless it, too, was “clarified” to say that it could not be used to discriminate against gays and lesbians. In both the Confederate flag and religious freedom controversies, we have seen the clout of business leaders. Black spending power reached $1.1 trillion in 2014, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. It’s time to exercise that clout by putting pressure on businesses, compelling them to apply pressure on Republican lawmakers who work against our interests. George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA) and BlackPressUSA.com.

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

Contact ADW sales representative at 678-515-2053 or lcochran@realtimesmedia.com 11 | ADW

July 9-15, 2015

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

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

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