August 18th, 2011 edition

St. Louis Community Credit opens Wellston branch

Salute honors two called to help

Valerie Pennington and Rayna Blackshear

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

Valerie Newton-Pennington and Rayna Blackshear have more in common than being two excellent educators. They both fell into education unexpectedly. On September 16, Pennington will receive the 2011 PNC Early Childhood Education Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2011 Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala. Blackshear will receive the SEMO Counselor of the Year award. The

Valerie Newton-Pennington never planned to become a teacher. In college, she started on the career track to become a nurse. “I was going through my nursing internship, and I kept wondering if I was cut out for this job,” she said. “I always wanted to

See SALUTE, A7

Fun with math and science

Freeman given highest NAACP award

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St.Louis American

“The woods are lovely dark and deep, but we have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.” Just before civil rights legend Frankie Muse Freeman exited the podium on July 28 as the 96th recipient of the NAACP Spingarn Award, she adapted the words of Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” to remind guests at the NAACP’s 102nd Annual Convention that the organization has much work left to do. As she donned the Spingarn Medal, which has since 1914 symbolized the outstanding noble achievement of an African American, it was a fitting tribute to a woman who has committed her long life to freedom-fighting, including more than 60 years of work as a civil rights attorney.

“It’s what you call a dream come true.”

– Freeman R.Bosley Jr.

Residence and dining hall named for Mayor Freeman R. Bosley Jr.

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

Harris-Stowe State

celebrated the opening of its second residence hall and new student dining facility on Friday, August 12. The university named the recently completed 65,000-square-foot, four-story structure in honor of attorney Freeman R. Bosley Jr., the first African-American mayor of the City of St. Louis and long-time advocate of the university and its mission.

“This opening truly represents the final phase in the transformation of our university,” said Dr. Henry Givens Jr., president of Harris-Stowe University.

“We could not have achieved this mission and vision without the unwavering support of attorney Freeman R. Bosley Jr. I am privileged to be dedicating this facility in his name.”

During his tenure as the mayor of the City of St. Louis, Bosley played a critical role in the university’s acquisi-

Photo by CG Taylor

Photo by Wiley Price

Michael Parson and his daughter,Miraj,age 6,get a robotics demonstration from Harris-Stowe freshman and engineering student Charles Kirksey III during the recent Science and Math Academy Fair at the university.

Photo by Wiley Price

Kobe pulls a cell phone snatch and grab at church

San Diego police are seeking to speak with parishioners who may have witnessed a minor confrontation between Kobe Bryant and a young man at a St. Therese of Carmel Church service Sunday, according to oficials.

Police said Bryant supposedly thought the young man was taking his picture and during a confrontation at the back of the church, he grabbed the man’s phone.

However, Bryant didn’t see his picture on the phone and returned it to the man. Then, along with several friends, left the church before the service was completed, police said. The man, as yet unidentiied, later went to a hospital with what is described as a minor wrist sprain.

“We’re attempting to interview all the [participants],” said a San Diego police spokesman.

Baby caught in $8M lie

The $8,000,000 Maybach Exelero that rapper Bryan “Birdman” Williams was supposed to purchase is still up for sale, according to the luxury vehicle’s owner.

Birdman announced that he was purchasing the one-of-a-kind Maybach for $8,000,000, along with plans to customize the car and paint it red.

But a representative for the European entrepreneur who owns the car told magazine MotorAuthority that Birdman has yet to pay for the pricey vehicle.

one Black woman involved, not that it would be an appreciated representation anyway. But what can you expect with lyrics like “I [expletive] with her hard/ She’s my lil’ ghetto sex soldier.”

And when fans tweeted why there weren’t more Black women, he replied:

“I had a 2 day audition. I welcomed ALL women and went with the BEST. I don’t do favors… Doesn’t matter the race!! I’m Black as [expletive] !!! Love my sisters!! You do auditions and go for the BEST! Not race! Love u.”

Reps for Arnaud Massartic said the expensive Maybach Exelero was still on the market and up for sale.

Black video models don’t measure up for Tyrese

Actor and R&B heartthrob Tyrese released a sneak peak of his latest video for single “I Gotta Chick” for his upcoming release “Open Invitation.”

An overwhelming amount of his fans are black women and were simply outraged by the lack of representation they had in the video.

The video in fact was pretty distasteful, being criticized as a virtual orgy with 15-20 women with just

Steve Harvey chops Cornel West and Tavis Smiley

Steve Harvey spoke out against Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, even calling them “uncle toms,” during a recent broadcast of his syndicated morning radio show.

“I was a huge fan of Cornel West,” he said. “[But] Tavis, I seen him coming a mile away. His anger started when he had a town hall meeting, President Obama couldn’t come because of the campaign trail and he sent Mrs. Obama. He has held that grudge every since.”

He continued, “You don’t have any real basis behind your dislike for this man…you keep masking it saying it’s not about hate. Then what is it about? Poverty existed before January 20, 2008. Where was your damn bus then?”

He kept going off on a rant and even joked

about Tavis’ request for the president to sit down at a two to three day summit on the issue of poverty. “Who in the hell got 2-3 days for your [expletive]? I ain’t got time to sit down with your monkey behind for two, three days, let alone the President of the United States. We got three wars going on, the economy crashing and we going to sit down with Tavis [expletive] for three days?”

Then he proposed that Smiley is being funded by someone to say these things and produce the poverty tour.

Harvey continued his rant by referring to Smiley and West as being afiliated with UTLO. org (which stands out for “Uncle Tom Look Out”).

Jigga’s $300K toast to the ‘Throne’ Jay-Z reportedly spared no expense at his Watch the Throne release party inside Miami’s Fontainebleau. The rapper, who collaborated on the album with Kanye West, dropped $250,000 on Armand de Brignac champagne for the night, threw in a $50,000 tip and spent thousands more at Scarpetta, the Italian restaurant inside the hotel which stayed open extra-late for his crew. After a pasta dinner – and shots of tequila – the rapper headed to the LIV Nightclub to continue the party.

Sources: People.com, Eurweb.com, New York Post, Allhiphop.com

Keeping the faith in healthy marriages

the keynote speaker who will give us insight on “Marriage Power.” This retired NFL player is a God-centered, strong family man, and author of the book entitled It Takes Respect. He is a irm believer in the power and beneits of a spiritually grounded relationship. Please take full advantage of

the workshops that our dedicated, hard-working staff have prepared for you, and make a commitment to take whatever steps are necessary to rebuild and/or strengthen your marital partnership. For those who are cultivating relationships for the purpose of marriage, I encourage you to utilize the valuable

information and counseling that will be imparted to you during this retreat. Keep the faith that you will be in a healthy relationship/marriage. To purchase tickets and obtain a complete schedule of activities, please visit www. betterfamilylife.org or call 314454-0622.

By Malik Ahmed For The St. Louis American

of the greatest challenges

facing the

community. A vital prerequisite of realizing this

is

to re-establish healthy communities and healthy families. Communities are the cornerstone of group socialization and moral obligations, and families are its initial building blocks. Thus, when a couple engages in the dating process and ultimately inds suficient grounds for marriage, they should be consciously aware that they are equally making a commitment to unite families, work to build sustainable communities and adopt daily practices of living a healthy lifestyle. When these essential elements work together, children are the recipients of a productive future and are better equipped to handle life’s changes. It is for these ideas and practices that we are honored to be on this healthy marriage mission with such dedicated partners as A New Cornerstone and the Fathers Support Center. As our faithbased partner, A New Cornerstone is keenly aware of our collective need to invoke the divine presence of the Creator in this mammoth undertaking by providing counseling services and workshops that are friendly, non-threatening and spiritually nourishing.

Our community-based partner, the Father Support Center, knows that divine invocations are less effective without the activist acumen of a community organization that unselishly works in the trenches of inner city neighborhoods to reclaim men who have lost their way. Together our partnership has helped hundreds of couples realize their dream of healthy dating, balanced relationships and sustainable marriages.

During the past year, our country has been faced with mounting iscal, social and healthcare crises. The near future doesn’t bold well for abating these hotly contested issues. They are a contributing factor that has caused a strain on many existing relationships. Unfortunately, these pressures can lead some couples to conclude they are incapable of committing to a lasting relationship, as well as cause others to seek ways to end their marriages. We are therefore compelled to energize our communities and people with living examples, practical methodologies and lasting optimism that they are capable of nurturing and sustaining healthy relationships, though the climate may be adverse.

The challenge of creating sustainable marriages in these trying times is why Better Family Life takes great pride in hosting our Annual Healthy Marriage Retreat The retreat will take place on Friday and Saturday, August 19-20, 2011 at the Embassy Suites, located at 2 Convention Center Plaza, St. Charles. The event includes a banquet on Friday August 19 at 6:30 pm, featuring Pastor Aeneas Williams of The Spirit Church in St. Louis as

Malik Ahmed

EDITORIAL /COMMENTARY

Back to work on our schools

As area children returned to school this week, their parents and teachers were digesting new data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In the city of St. Louis, there is some good news against a backdrop of an unaccredited public school district. According to preliminary results of the 2010 Missouri Assessment Program exams, St. Louis Public School District students improved in 14 of 16 categories measured, marking the fourth consecutive year SLPS has shown improvement. Superintendent Kelvin Adams, teachers union President Mary Armstrong, other district administrators and teachers, and the district’s Special Administrative Board should be commended.

But they should not pause for one second with a sense of enduring accomplishment. Only 30.9 percent of SLPS students passed in math proiciency, against a statewide rate of 54.2 percent; and only 33.1 percent of SLPS students passed in communication arts proiciency, against a statewide rate of 54.6 percent. City public schools remain an unacceptable 20-plus percent behind the statewide standards for public schools – and Missouri is not a state that scores high by national standards. Further, charter schools in the city – which have been promoted extensively by Mayor Francis G. Slay – do not present anything like a reliable alternative to the conventional public schools. City parents need to pore over the DESE data on a school-by-school basis before they assume that any given charter school will do a better job than the public schools at educating their children, for many charter schools do worse – and some much worse.

St. Louis is far from alone among American cities in its troubled public schools. New York City, our nation’s capital, Chicago, Los Angeles –none of these great cities have successful public school systems. Overall, public education in this country, especially in its urban centers, is a scandal. Our public schools need the highest priority, especially considering the workforce demands of the 21st century, when it is absolutely urgent

to have a quality education that enables lifelong learning. Also, in a nation that remains divided against itself, the difference in educational opportunities separates us when we badly need to be more united if we are to compete in a world where the U.S. loses ground daily to emergent nations like China, India and Brazil. As with so much else in our society, the people with inancial resources manage to provide a good opportunity for their children to get a quality education by choosing where to live or paying for private schools, and there always will be brilliant individuals who succeed despite every odd. But large numbers of people are coming out of our public education system – especially in our cities, a very large proportion of them black – who just are not able to function in the mainstream culture by getting jobs that pay a living wage. We must see this situation as a crisis for our country, as well as our state and city. The destiny of our country lies in our addressing better the problem of public education.

It is clear from the data that the sooner we intervene with our children, the better. This means we must ind adequate funding for Parents As Teachers; we must mandate and ind funding for pre-Kindergarten education. We talk about this nation’s crumbling physical infrastructure and the need to invest in improving it, but the situation is even more dire for our human infrastructure, the schools where we help form our citizens. Political conservatives – overwhelmingly white, and disproportionately male – like to talk about “American exceptionalism.” We have heard this from presumptive Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Kinder, and nascent Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry. We suspect there is a racial undertone to this coded boast of “American exceptionalism,” with its roots in Manifest Destiny, but most of us want to believe we are all the children of a great nation. And it is very clear that America will not remain exceptional in a positive sense without an exceptionally strong system for educating all of our citizens.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

England struggles to understand riots

England’s attempt to fully understand rioting touched off by a policeman’s fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29-year old black man, in many ways mirror the debate that followed the urban unrest that the United States underwent in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968.

Christina Patterson, writing in the Independent newspaper, said: “Race didn’t cause these riots, but it played a part… Too many black men have been killed by police. Too many black men and women have been treated like criminals when they’re not. This is not the cause of these riots, but it’s there in the mix, a mix where the key ingredient is feeling powerless. Cuts won’t help. Growing unemployment won’t help. Some investment in youth services, and better schools, and mentoring schemes might, but money alone isn’t the answer.”

On Aug. 8, the Daily Mirror carried the headline, “London riots: Is rap music to blame for encouraging this culture of violence?” To Paul Routledge, the author of the story, the answer is deinitely yes. He wrote, “I blame the pernicious culture of hatred around rap music which gloriies violence and loathing of authority (especially the

police but including parents), exalts trashy materialism and raves about drugs. The important things in life are the latest smart phones, fashionable trainers and jeans and idiot computer games. No wonder stores selling them were priority looting targets.”

Christina Odone of the Daily Telegraph wrote: “Here are three numbers to bear in mind when talking about the riots: 8 billion (pounds spent by social services each year on children and young people); 3.5 million (children from a broken home); and one-ifth (school leavers who are illiterate.” The writer suggests looking at some other numbers as well. She said, “A large number of youngsters are brought up without dads. The majority of rioters are gang members whose only loyalty is to the gang and whose only authority igure is the toughest of the bunch. Like the overwhelming majority of offenders behind bars, these gang members have one thing in common: no father at home.”

Camila Batmanghelidj, founder of The Place To Be and Kids Company charity, wrote in the Independent: “It’s not one occasional attack on dignity, it’s a repeated humiliation, being continuously disposed in a society rich with possession. Young, intelligent citizens of the ghetto want an explanation for why they are at the receiving end of bleak Britain, condemned to a darkness where their humanity is not even valued enough to be helped.”

An editorial in the Sun stated, “[Prime Minister] David Cameron spoke for most of us when he said police were initially too thin on the ground and misjudged their early response.”

Conservative columnist Max Hastings, writing in the Mail Online, charged: “They are essentially wild beasts... They respond only to instinctive animal impulses – to eat and drink, have sex or destroy the accessible property of others.”

London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone told the BBC: “If you’re making massive cuts, there’s always the potential for this sort of revolt against that.”

Zoe Williams, writing in the Guardian, offered what she called a pragmatic explanation. Williams said, “This is what happens when people don’t have anything, when they have their noses constantly rubbed in stuff they can’t afford, and they have no reason to believe that they will ever be able to afford it.”

I knew the rioting in England had taken on an American lavor when I looked at a quote from a reader replying to a BBC story about the unrest. The reader said, “I agree there are many reasons for this situation. However, I put poor, uninformed, and unexperienced parenting at the top of the list. You have babies trying to raise babies.”

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine and the NNPA News Service, can be reached at www. georgecurry.com.

COMMENTARY

The issue is jobs, jobs, jobs

It’s sobering that threefourths of Americans, according to a new Washington Post poll, have little or no conidence in our elected leaders to solve the nation’s economic problems. At this point, though, it’s hardly surprising. If anything, we should be shocked and alarmed that 26 percent of our fellow citizens apparently believe the president and Congress are going to make it all better.

The manic-depressive swings we’ve seen in the stock market all week just serve to heighten the general anxiety, like the soundtrack of a horror ilm.

Seesaw gains or losses of hundreds of points on the Dow tend to mask the overall trend, which is downward – and also distract attention from the fact that markets in Europe and Asia are heading in the same direction. The world is trillions of dollars poorer than it was just a couple of weeks ago.

Trillions, by the way, are the new billions.

The survey by the Post shows that while oficials in Washington may be clueless in the face of economic turmoil, most of their constituents see things quite clearly. Seven out of 10 respondents said the federal government is “mostly focused on the wrong things” – and blamed Democrats and Republicans for this misdirected focus in precisely equal measure.

How many times does this message have to be delivered? In poll after poll, Americans have said their top concern is the jobs crisis. Unemployment is at 9.1 percent. The worst economic slowdown since the Great Depression robbed the nation of 9 million jobs and only a fraction have been replaced. The economy is adding jobs at a snail’s pace that doesn’t even keep up with growth of the potential work force.

Jobs. The issue is jobs.

Yet the president and Congress have spent months focused on the national debt – a problem that needs to be addressed, to be sure, but not when unemployment is at staggering levels and the “recovery” is beginning to look like a mirage. Recent data suggest the economy is in danger of sinking back into recession; even if it doesn’t, the current rate of growth is too anemic to have much impact on the jobs front.

Oh, and what drama will absorb Washington for the next several months? The deliberations of the congressional “super-committee,” a 12-member panel that is supposed to chart a way forward on ... debt. Have I mentioned that the most urgent crisis facing the nation right now is jobs?

Only one-third of those polled said they have conidence in President Obama to make “the right decisions about the country’s economic future,” the Post found. That may sound discouraging, but only 18 percent of respondents said they have conidence in congressional Republicans to make the right decisions.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dump Sheriff Murphy

Citizens of St. Louis will once again be presented with the opportunity to improve city government in the election of 2012. One thing is obvious: this town desperately needs a new sheriff. Sheriff Murphy has been in ofice 24 years.

Sheriff Murphy seems to think he owns this city and his ofice. It was ludicrous for him to ire someone for running for ofice when there was no law in place stating an employee could not run while presently serving as deputy sheriff. Since when is it legal for a person to make up rules as he, or she deems necessary simply to intimidate employees?

Mr. Murphy seems uncomfortable with having an employee who holds a Life-time Teaching certiicate with St. Louis Public Schools and is a retired manager from AmerenUE. Murphy only ired Vernon Betts because Mr. Betts does not bow down to personal antics. Once again, I smell something foul in the sheriff department.

In my opinion, Mr. Betts should not only run for sheriff, he should also sue to get his job back! He seems to represent what we need: integrity and justice for all.

This city cannot afford to support Sheriff Murphy any longer. We need someone who is able to run the ofice without racial lawsuits or misappropriation of funds. Murphy has an embarrassing record.

V. Petty, St. Louis

‘Free market’greed

This should be on thousands of billboards across the country: “I lost one-half of my retirement savings in the 2008-9 gambling spree by Wall Street and mortgage companies.” It was just getting back to the prerecession level, and now this. I want every tea party member across the country to send me $10. They owe it to me because they stole my retirement fund. Look behind the tea party “movement.” Its puppet masters are ALEC, Americans for Prosperity, and – you guessed it – all the greedy “free market” true believers.

They believe they should be free to pollute the air and water

For good reason, in my view: The Republican solution has been to eliminate jobs rather than create them. Last month, the economy added 117,000 jobs – a performance so weak that unemployment changed little. The private sector actually added 154,000 jobs, but the public sector lost 37,000 jobs as Republicans continue to impose an austerity program at an inopportune moment. The GOP seems to believe that a federal, state or local job somehow isn’t a “real” job. Here we are, with interest rates at or near historical lows. The federal government, despite suffering a credit downgrade to AA-plus from Standard & Poor’s, is able to borrow as much money as it wants at an absurdly low cost. Meanwhile, we have a large and growing backlog of infrastructure needs. Roads, bridges and dams need to be repaired; new airports need to be built and old ones refurbished; we need to upgrade the electrical grid to take advantage of new energy sources that do not depend on fossil fuels. Putting two and two together, you might expect the president and Congress to design and implement a nationwide project of infrastructure renewal that would put Americans back to work, spark a burst of growth and leave us with tangible assets that would increase our competitiveness in the global economy. But you’d be disappointed. And you’d lose faith in the ability of oficials to respond to a crisis they don’t even seem to notice.

we all need to survive. They believe they have no obligation to treat their customers ethically. They believe it’s okay to pay prisoners 25 cents an hour to do jobs that “free” Americans should be doing for $9 an hour. They believe “public” education has to be destroyed because it teaches kids to be part of a “public” community with shared responsibilities and goals. They believe stealing what little wealth the working people have is just ine as long as they keep repeating “no new taxes.”

In short, they are conscienceimpaired. Their game plan is clearly spelled out on ALEC’s website, www.alec.org.

Susan Cunningham, Via email

Promoting education

I have been a supporter of The St. Louis American for a while now and igured I contributed. The Make SMART Cool Team Artist from St. Louis, Prince Ea, has a viral video that’s been making waves everywhere. He has appeared on Fox 2 News for this video, Hufington Post, CBS News, Riverfront Times, among other blogs, forums and publications. The video is called “Backwards Rappers” and promotes education. He himself has graduated Summa Cum Laude from UMSL. This is a great movement and would be huge for St. Louis youth in general especially for the coming year. I know you guys support education, positivity and the youth and this is a great way to do it, right here from St. Louis. You can Google “Backwards Rappers” or search YouTube, if you like. The video is only two minutes.

Travis Blakely, St. Louis

‘Meter Maids’ money scheme

I don’t know if you still have “meter maid” checking cars that the time has run out on with the parking meters. You could make money if you were to use a laptop (which they already have) and have them go up and down some city streets and punch in license numbers of the cars parked on the city streets

to see if they match up to the vehicles’ make and model. If not, somehow deface the plate so the police will see it and pull them over and hear the excuse (and I’m sure they’ll hear a bunch) and also check if they have insurance on that vehicle.

Bob Wulf, Barnhart, Mo.

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Humboldt Elementary fourth grader Tyler Henderson, age 9, enjoyed the company of third grader Jibril Salik, age 8, during breakfast on their irst day back at school Monday on the city’s South Side. Photo by Wiley Price

Dine out and benefit Boys & Girls Club

Dine out at Scape (located at 48 Maryland Plaza in the Central West End) on Thursday, August 25, and 20 percent of your bill will be donated to Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club. Reserve a table or by calling 314-3617227.

Embassy Suites collecting school supplies

Employees along with guests at Embassy Suites St. Louis–Airport are collecting back to school supplies for Jennings School District from now until Wednesday, August 31. They are looking for necessities from pens and pencils to backpacks and binders.

“The employee luncheon this month will be back to school-themed, and each employee will bring in at least one item to donate,” said James Vavak, general manager, Embassy Suites St. Louis–Airport.

During the month of July, Embassy Suites St. Louis –Airport donated furniture to the district which included couches, televisions, pictures, lamps and chairs. The furniture will be used by the high school to create a student study lounge for students with the principal’s approval.

“Our district is in the process of building partnerships with local businesses who are vested in the community,” said Jennings Board President Rose Mary Johnson. For more information or to send story or content ideas, contact Johnny Little at littlej@jenningsk12.org or 314-653-8009.

Training brains with robotics

During a four-day robotics camp in August,fifth-grade GALACTIC students Aidan Williams,standing,DessaRae Lampkins,Alexis Hidalgo and Sophie Thorp,back to camera,worked on building or programming their robots.The camp allowed students to cover robotic basics to prepare them for the 2011-2012 robotics season.Qualifying competitions start in November and culminate with the FLL World Festival at the Edward Jones Dome in St.Louis next April.“Robotics trains your brain,” said Louis Behlmann,who attends McCurdy Elementary School.

Audition forblack female lead

Hawthorne Players will hold auditions for Herb Gardner’s Tony Award-winning play

“I’m Not Rappaport” on Monday, August 29 at 7 p.m. at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre, Parker Road and Waterford Drive 63033. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. There are parts for five men and two women. The main characters are Nat, an 80year-old Jewish radical, and Midge, an 80-year-old African-American superintendent of an apartment building. Show dates are November 4, 5, 11, 12, 13 at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre. For more information visit www.hawthorneplayers.com or write hawthorneplayers@att.net.

Blood Drive September8

Christian Hospital is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a Blood Drive open to the general public as well as employees and physician office staff on Thursday, September 8, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Detrick Building Atrium. For an appointment please contact Sandy Barnesat 314-653-5719 or slm9123@bjc.org or visit www.redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code: christianhospital.

‘The Help’and the struggle

By Linda Tarrant-Reid NNPA Columnist

I know, everyone loved the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett.It’s been on the NYT’s Best Seller’s List for combined print and e-book fiction for 24 weeks, and is #1.Now the book is a movie.

Robin Roberts of Good Morning America recently interviewed the four lead characters in the film – Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard – about their roles in this movie about maids in the South during the Civil Rights Movement.

I’m delighted that African-American actors – Davis, Spencer, Cicely Tyson and the other black folks in the film – got some work in Hollyweird, and got paid.My concern is the trivialization of a period of painful transition in African-American history.

The Civil Rights Movement was no joke; folks died, bled, and were maimed and jailed in pursuit of equality. A fictional account about African-American domestics set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s written by a white author who uses dialect and vernacular for the black maids, while creating inauthentic dialogue devoid of Southern ticks for her white characters, does not capture the essence of the struggle.

The Help is not the first novel about African Americans by a white author adapted to film that has stirred controversy.Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, although written to promote an anti-slavery message, ended up solidifying black stereotypes.Stowe, a white abolitionist, populated her bestselling 1852 novel with pickaninnies, mammies and Uncle Toms whose negative impact reverberates today in popular culture.

The Help, albeit fiction, is an illustrative example of one aspect of the race problem in America.Blacks get it, but whites don’t.Because we have cleaned their houses, raised their kids and prepared their meals, we have been privy to their private conversations and know exactly what they think about black people.They, on the other hand, are largely ignorant of African Americans – who we are, what we are capable of and how we live our lives.

The other side of the story of the powerful and the powerless is the abuse.Consider the DSK Affair of today. AWest African maid, Nafissatou Diallo, who worked at a midtown Manhattan hotel, accused a European banker, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, of rape.The former head of the IMF, DSK was arrested on his way out of the country on an international flight after Diallo reported that she was accosted as she went about her maid’s duties.

Charges against the powerful French economist and lawyer were on the brink of dismissal after a smear campaign was waged in the press against the maid and her credibility.But the tide seems to be turning since Nafissatou Diallo shed the cloak of anonymity and has decided, with her lawyers and supporters, to go public and tell her side of the story.

The other story making the media rounds involves a six-page essay found among the personal items of Rosa Parks being auctioned off in New York.The essay, which some friends and associates of Parks are calling a fictional account written by her but meant to remain private, details an encounter that Rosa had with her white, male employer.Working as a housekeeper for a neighbor in 1931, Parks describes a near-rape experience.

The alleged abuse at the center of the DSK Affair and the discovery of Rosa Parks’essay are certainly at the far end of the power spectrum, but are part of the same continuum experienced by domestic workers like the maids in The Help.They are a reminder that real life, not reel life, inspires movements.

Linda Tarrant-Reid

FREEMAN

Continued from A1

As the latest recipient of the NAACP’s highest honor, Freeman, age 94, joined the historic ranks of W.E.B. DuBois, George Washington Carver, Carter G. Wilson, James Weldon Johnson, Mary McCleod Bethune, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers and her good friend Dorothy Height.

“I applaud and appreciate the honor that you have bestowed upon me,” Freeman said. “Much of what we have done has been basic to the Constitution of the United States, and it has been done with the support of my family.”

Her daughter Shelbe F. Bullock and her lone surviving sibling Allie Muse Peebles, along with several other family members, were on hand for the ceremony in Los Angeles.

Several of her Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters – including the current national President Cynthia M.A. ButlerMcIntyre – came to support Freeman, who served as its 14th national president.

Even as she expressed her gratitude, Freeman continued her activism by issuing a charge to the audience in the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“We have a lot more work to do,” she said.

“In this country – which is still the greatest country in the world – each of us has the individual responsibility to stand up with positive power and with positive action and with putting your money where your mouth is in making this country turn into what it ought to be.”

Freeman’s work on landmark cases – including a 1949 NAACPsuit against the St. Louis Board of Education and a 1954 case against the St. Louis Housing Authority –guarantee her place in civil rights history. Among other historic honors, she also was

the first woman appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights (for which she would serve for 16 years under four different U.S. presidents).

“This year’s Spingarn Medalist has been a premiere advocate for African Americans for over 60 years,” said Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACPpresident and CEO.

“With numerous distinctions, including induction in the international Civil Rights Walk of Fame, she remains in the battle for equality and justice for all.”

Instrumental in the revolution

“We have an obligation to speak up, speak out and take whatever action is appropriate in a positive, effective and meaningful way.”

– Frankie Muse Freeman

“Much of what we have done has been basic to the Constitution of the United States, and it has been done with the support of my family.”

– Frankie Muse Freeman

housing in St. Louis, wrestling with the corporations to provide support for the educational institutions on whose boards she served and the continuing dedication that she demanded of all of her friends, and especially her daughter,” Young said.

NAACP Board Chairman Roslyn M. Brock,NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous, and Ambassador Andrew Young honored Frankie Muse Freeman on July 28 at the NAACP’s 102nd Annual Convention in Los Angeles. The civil rights attorney from St.Louis became the 96th recipient of the NAACP’s highest honor, the Spingarn Award.

have to accept,” Freeman said.

“That is why we did not ride the bus or the street car – we walked. Our parents expected all of us to do our best, to be of service and to make a difference – and that is what I’ve tried my entire life to do.”

Her parents, William B. and Maude Beatrice Muse, laid the foundation for Freeman and her seven siblings to become civil rights stalwarts.

According to Andrew Young, who introduced Freeman, her determination and drive were evident from the onset of her training as a civil rights lawyer. Young himself received the Spingarn Medal more than 30 years ago while serving as a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Howard University at about the same time, Young as an undergraduate and Freeman as a law student who had graduated from Hampton University.

“What you have through these awards is a history of a revolution – and the young woman we honor tonight has been instrumental in that revolution,” Young said. Young and Freeman entered

“While I was running around trying to find myself at the gym and the girls’dormitory, she was already – in the ‘40s – engaging with the likes of Thurgood Marshall, Charles Hamilton Houston, William Hastie and others,” Young said.

“They were laying the foundation of the legal framework for the changing of America, and most of us didn’t know it was going on until it surfaced publicly and dramatically in 1954. But Frankie Muse Freeman had been working on it for more than a decade already.”

Young envisioned what her struggle must have been like.

“None of us will ever know the nights spent laboring over cases, the struggles with public

“And with all of that she managed to remain married for 52 years (to the late Shelby T. Freeman Jr.). We are grateful to the great people that created a revolution that you and I are beginning to enjoy.”

Spingarn afterglow

Three weeks after receiving her award, Freeman was still overwhelmed with gratitude as she reflected on the experience back home in St. Louis.

“When I read the letter saying I would receive it, I was moved to tears and I just said, ‘Thank you, Lord,’” Freeman said. “Some of the people that I knew that were dear friends –Dorothy Height, for example –had received this honor.”

It was her roots in “the last capitol of the Confederacy” in Virginia that led to her desire to serve as a civil rights attorney.

“There was racial segregation in Danville, but what we were taught growing up by our parents is that there are things that you have to accept, but there are things that you don’t

“The involvement in NAACPwas no question,” Freeman said. “You were going to be a member.”

Her brother Edward “Ed” B. Muse Sr., who worked for the NAACP, also was paid tribute by the NAACPwith a Life Membership Award in his honor.

“I don’t remember anything other than this was something you had to do. There was racial discrimination, so you had to work to do what you can to eliminate it,” Freeman said.

“During many of those years, some of the action I would take filing the suits, I was called a troublemaker. But we have an obligation to speak up, speak out and take whatever action is appropriate in a positive, effective and meaningful way. We have to take a stand. We have a duty.”

Photo by CG Taylor

SALUTE

Continued from A1

help people, so I prayed and asked the Lord if there is any other way that I could help somebody.”

She reassessed her college credits and realized that through her social work minor, she was taking a number of education courses. She soon found her passion for early childhood education through a college internship. Now, she has been a preschool teacher at the YMCAPagedale Head Start Center for 19 years.

“When I give them that hug or smile in the morning, I feel that I have touched their lives in some way,” she said. “I have students come back, and I feel that is my reward. They have remembered something I said to them to try to encourage them to go further in their education.”

Her personal hero is her father, Willie Evans, who passed away. He was a hardworking man, who worked for General Motors over 30 years to support his 11 children.

“Whenever you needed him, he was always there,” she said. “Just hearing his voice would push me on when I was having a bad day.”

She said her parents, along with Jesus Christ, were the driving force for her career. Now, she has a loving family, her husband and son, who support her 100 percent in everything she does, she said. Her son, who cheered her on when she went back to college, is going to be a college junior studying mechanical engineering this fall.

Pennington read a quote

BOSLEY

Continued from A1

tion of 18 acres adjacent to its campus, valued at $12 million, for only $10.

“At the moment we gave them the land, there was nothing there,” Bosley told The American. “And now to walk on the campus and see all the different buildings –it’s what you call a dream come true.”

Though there was nothing there, the land was coveted by Saint Louis University and area corporations that also were seeking to expand in Midtown. Bosley’s decision to favor Harris-Stowe and forego a competitive bidding process was a risk of political capital for the city’s first African-American major who had been elected through the

that she lives by titled, “What I leave behind.”

“I hope my achievements in life shall be these,” she read.

“That I would have fought for what was right and fair. That I will have risked for that which has mattered. That I will have given help to those in who are in need. That I left the Earth a better place for what I’ve done and who I’ve been.”

Pennington said she makes her biggest impact on people’s lives by being someone who listens without giving an opinion.

“I try to listen to our stu-

efforts of a diverse coalition.

This coveted land made the university’s expansion over the past 15 years possible, Givens said.

“Five buildings have been subsequently constructed on the land, allowing the university’s vision to become a reality, as well as helping to stimulate the revitalization of Midtown St. Louis,” Givens said.

Bosley’s daughter, Sydney Bosley, was present to cut the ribbon on the new structure with him, Dr. Givens and Givens; wife, Belma Givens. Anumber of elected officials also participated in the ribbon-cutting, including Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, St. Louis License Collector Michael McMillan and state Rep. Tishaura Jones. HSSU Board Chair Thelma Cook and board

dents and our parents,” she said. “Because in life’s journeys, sometimes you just need someone to listen.”

Making future leaders

Rayna Blackshear earned a B.A. in criminal justice with the dream of becoming an FBI agent. When her detective aspirations did not materialize after she graduated, she turned to what’s been the backbone of her parents’lives – education. Receiving her masters in school counseling at

member Luther Rollins also participated. Harris-Stowe has a 150year history as an institution. However, the university only became a residential campus as recently as 2006, when it opened its first residence hall named in honor of the Rev. Dr. William G. Gillespie. In July 2010, the university broke ground on the new hall named for Bosley. The year-long, $15 million construction project was managed by Kwame Building Group. Architectural services were provided by Grice Group Architects and Trivers

Lindenwood University, she became a school counselor at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, where she had graduated.

“I wanted to help students to achieve their future goals and aspirations,” she said. “Everyone in my family believes that education is important.”

At Cardinal Ritter, she is proud that the school’s college acceptance rate is 100 percent. Last year, members of the graduating class received $2.5 million in scholarships, and she said she was glad to be a

Associates Architects. K&S Construction is the general contractor.

“We could not have achieved this mission and vision without the unwavering support of attorney Freeman R.Bosley Jr.”

– Dr.Henry Givens Jr., president of HarrisStowe University

Kwame Building Group and Grice Group Architects are St. Louis-based African Americanowned business enterprises. The new residence hall contains 196 beds and one director’s suite. Each furnished suite includes a common living area, kitchenette, dining area and two bathrooms. Bedrooms are furnished with a bed, dresser, desk and upholstered chair. Kitchenettes are equipped with a microwave oven, refrigerator and garbage disposal. Additional amenities

part of that. God is the number one influence in her life, she said, next to her parents, who have been educators for 30 years.

“We can’t go anywhere without a student coming up to us,” she said. “It makes you feel good that you impacted a student so much that when they see you, they want to come up and talk with you.”

Blackshear also sponsors the National Honor Society, which organizes blood drives and other community service activities. Through her community service efforts, she is

in the new residence hall include a workout facility, student lounges, laundry room, community kitchen and study nooks.

The hall’s common spaces were designed to encourage the formation of study groups and shared learning experiences among residential students.

“Our new residence hall and dining facility will allow students to have a well-rounded college experience by participating in leadership activities, developing life-long friendships and focusing on their long-term goal of earning a college degree, without ever leaving our campus,” Givens said.

The new dining facility, serving both residence halls, was also celebrated at the dedication ceremony. Culinary amenities include a brick pizza oven, pasta and stir fry station,

“I prayed and asked the Lord if there is any other way that I could help somebody.”

– Valerie NewtonPennington

“I wanted to help students to achieve their future goals and aspirations.”

– Rayna Blackshear

building young leaders.

“The fact that I have been a part of modeling community service, I know that there will be future leaders out here and they will give back to their communities,” she said.

The St. Louis American Foundation’s 2011 Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala will be held Friday, September 16, at the America’s Center, with the reception starting at 6 p.m. and program at 7 p.m. For information and tickets, please call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com.

chef’s grill, dessert bar, salad bar and two beverage stations. The facility seats 300 people and also includes an outdoor patio.

In addition to the dining hall, the building contains a meeting room and lobby, both equipped with audiovisual equipment. The lobby also includes a number of computer stations for student use. Bosley said he was overwhelmed with the recognition.

“Normally you get these types of honors when you aren’t around. I’m glad that they gave me some roses while I’m still alive,” Bosley said.

“I had so many friends and supporters there. That was the highlight of the whole event –to look out on the audience and see so many people who helped me in so many ways.”

Valerie Newton-Pennington, 2011 PNC Early Childhood Education awardee

Rayna Blackshear, SEMO Counselor of the Year awardee

Photos by Wiley Price

Case solved, book published

Obituaries

In Loving Memory of Christopher James Jones (Pholicho)

April 16, 1962— August 16, 2008

On August 16, 2008, Christopher James Jones (Poncho) departed this life and met with a new life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As a young minister, Chris’ home was one to many without a home or family. He was loved by so many. Thank you all for the prayer, especially the 7 Bikers and the Skate King family for your support.

Marlene (Chris’ mom)

Tiny Ann Walker Swift

Tiny Ann Walker Swift, age 101, passed away Friday, August 5, 2011 in St. Louis, MO. She was born on January 7, 1910 as the youngest of eight children born to Rev. Willie and Minnie Jones Walker in Kilgore, Texas.

While a baby she moved to Tyler, Texas and at nine years of age she joined Calvary Baptist Church. She later moved to St. Louis, MO and joined Christ’s Southern Mis-

sion Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Herman Gore Sr. Tiny became very involved and worked in all junior departments of the church Sunday School as well as the BYPU Choir. She became one of the first Junior Ushers and served as Group One’s Finance Secretary for many years. Further, in 1982 she designed and donated buttons to the usher board for members to recognize ushers, that had passed on. Tiny attended Sumner High School in the city of St. Louis. She was united in marriage on December 19, 1926 to Odie M. Swift. To this marriage one son was born (Jerome M. Swift). During her lifetime she worked as a seamstress, aircraft riveter at Curtiss-Wright Company, elevator operator and a head cook for the St. Louis Public School system, which she retired from in the mid 1970s. As an honor to recognize her 100th birthday, January 7, 2010 was declared Tiny Ann Walker Swift Day in St. Louis County. She leaves to cherish her memory: son, Jerome M. Swift and Terry Powell, who also cared for her the last 10 years of her life; grandchildren, Brian M. Swift and Jamie M. Swift; former daughter-in-law, Jacqueline M. Swift; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Ethelmar Stott

Ethelmar Stott, age 87, passed away on August 5, 2011. Beloved husband of Barbara Bowden Stott, dear father to Rosalyn Williamson, dear brotherin-law to Billy Bowden and Amerilys Bowden, cousin to Damon and Margie Ambus, uncle and friends.

Mr. Schott owned Shat’s Barbecue for years, where he trained many young people about work and the work world. The family suggests that donations be made to the Antioch Church food pantry.

First Sergeant Lawrence W. Webb

First Sergeant Lawrence W. Webb was born July 28, 1932 in Homerville, Georgia to Lawrence and Rhina Webb, both of whom preceded him in death. He departed this life Tuesday, August 9, 2011. He served in the United States Army for 24 years. He spent his career as an electronic technician. He worked for Alaska Communications, Inc. in the electronic satellite communications field. He volunteered at the USO and as an usher at the Fox Theater. He was a supervisor for the Board of Election Commission. First Sergeant Webb enjoyed helping people volunteering also at the Middle and High Schools in the Ritenour School District as well as other venues. One of the high points of his life was to be able to give back by providing help to the many young military men and women passing through the James McDonnell USO at the airport.

First Sergeant Lawrence W. Webb is survived by and leaving many cherished memories to lovely wife of 28 years, Francine B. Webb; children, Ronald, Janice, Deborah, Regina, Ulysses and Cynthia; sisters, Bettye Dixon and Lillian “Penny” Johnson; five grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Services have been entrusted to The Archway Memorial Chapel and will be as follows: Friday, August 19, 2011, Visitation 9-10:30 am and Funeral Service at 10:30 am at Archway Memorial Chapel, 111 Taylor Road, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042.

Christopher Jones

Tiny Swift

Ethelmar Stott

Lawrence Webb

Alysia Lockhardt, age 11, looks on as her dad Lee and brother Justin, age 9, read Struggling to Solve the Case, the book she wrote in the Risen Publishing Camp 4 Kids, during came graduation ceremonies held recently at the Schlafly Library Branch. Fourteen students participated in the camp and were presented with published copies of their books with their diploma. At left is the girl’s mother, Melanie Lockhardt. The camp was organized by the Risen Foundation in partnership with Impact St. Louis. Each camper was given the task to write about substance abuse or mental health and how it affects their community. “All children are capable of achieving greatness if we present great opportunities to them,” said Anthony M. McDonald Sr., founder and executive director of The Risen Foundation.

Photo by Wiley Price

Spirit of St. Louis awards $209K in grants

Holly Swift (second from left) of The Belle Center smiles alongside Spirit of St. Louis (SOS) Women’s Fund President Vicki Sheehan (far left), SOS Grant-making Chair Felice Joyce (second from right) and SOS Membership Chair Gwen Wesley (far right). The Belle Center received a $12,000 grant from SOS. SOS recently awarded grants totaling $209,500 to 13 nonprofits, a 4.75 percent increase over 2010 grant awards. Other recipients included

Gateway Greening, $25,000; Almost Home, $10,000; Let’s Start, $15,000; Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorder, $10,000; Lydia’s House, $20,000; South Side Day Nursery, $20,000; St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program, $10,000; Aim High St. Louis, $25,000; Project Backpack, $15,000; Gateway to Hope, $15,000; The Little Bit Foundation, $20,000; and Volunteers in Medicine, $20,000.

NAACP reacts with horror at hate crime James Anderson allegedly run over

by joyriding white youths

American staff

The NAACP expressed horror and sympathy regarding the violent death of James Anderson of Jackson, Mississippi: “I am saddened that a horrific act like this, which appears to be motivated by hate, can still occur in 2011,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous.

“We are glad that two of the alleged attackers have been charged, and hope all individuals responsible are brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Anderson was killed June 26, but videotape of his murder surfaced just last week. The video shows Anderson, 49, being taunted and badly beaten by a group of teenag-

ers as he stood outside a hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. After fleeing the scene, the teens returned to find the victim limping down the street. The

video, which captures the beating and subsequent murder, shows the teens running over Anderson with a pickup truck.

“My deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of James Anderson,” said Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP Mississippi State Conference. “I have full confidence in the county prosecutor that the family will see justice in the matter.”

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith has charged Deryl Dedmon, Jr. with murder and John Aaron Rice, with simple assault. Both men are from Brandon, Mississippi. Smith said, “There were racial slurs used throughout the turn of events which led to the conclusion that it was most likely a hate crime.””

James Anderson

Back to School and Community Empowerment

Festival Attracts Over 11,000 People

Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), delivered another success in his three year tenure with this year’s Annual Back to School Fair and Community Empowerment Festival. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 11,000 people attended the event at Chaifetz Arena. Dr. Adams collaborated with two community partners to help SLPS reach more families. SLPS was able to pre-register and conduct on site enrollments to increase irst day of school attendance.

As a result, a partnership was formed with 19th Ward Alderwoman Marlene Davis; Ruth Smith, President, Human Development Corporation (HDC); Michael McMillan, Board Chairman of the St. Louis Community Empowerment Foundation and License Collector. The Ofice of the License Collector and Gregory F.X. Daly, Collector of Revenue, were joined by other city agencies for their Fifth Annual Licensing and Business Resource Fair as a component of the festival with bank and business assistance participation.

The overall intent of this event was to register more children into the St. Louis Public Schools and to provide needed services free to families who otherwise could not afford it. According to Dr. Kelvin Adams, “Providing quality education is our priority. By adding more components with our partners, we also reinforce the importance of family and community inclusion in the educational process.” “A healthy home makes better students. This was a very worthwhile collaboration,” says Ruth Smith, President, HDC, “I saw irst hand the right people, getting the right services. HDC was very pleased with the outcome

and looks forward to next year.”

The event had unprecedented results that beneited entire families. The Back to School and Community Empowerment Festival had all of the needed elements for a one day extravaganza to inspire school enrollment with book bags and supplies; free health screenings by St. Louis Children’s Hospital Express; inancial literacy services by local banks; and fun too. HDC provided transportation to make sure that students and senior citizens without resources could get to the event. Also in attendance, were the St. Louis Fire Department and institutions of higher education. Among these institutions were Harris Stowe State University, St. Louis University offering job recruitment, while the St. Louis Community College District introduced its William J. Harrison Center and its African American Male Initiative.

“It is good when you can see an idea grow from a vision into fruition, and a successful one at

that, “says, Michael McMillan, Board Chairman of STLCEF, who continues by saying, “With everyone concerned about budget cuts and the importance of keeping our children in school, this was a timely and successful collaboration.”

Awards distinguishing outstanding civic contributions were presented by Michael McMillan to Dr. Kelvin Adams for his leadership and vision; and, Ruth Smith for her commitment to services and resources for the disadvantaged and underserved. A special award was also presented to Clay Stacy, a high school senior, for outstanding achievements both academically and extra curricular activities. The 100 Black Men presented a laptop computer to LaVon Williams, a student at Ranken Technical College. He is an active member of the Collegiate 100 organization.

Live entertainment was provided for the crowd throughout the day. Inside the Chaifetz Arena, a group of over 250

senior citizens were treated to food, gifts and more. Ameren Missouri, Pepsi, Keefe Group and STLCEF provided the gifts; St. Louis Area Agency on Aging hosted lunch and provided essential information, while Big George and his House Rockers Band entertained them.

The St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (SLAAA) provided useful information by linking seniors to a range of services such as housing & home modiication, transportation, legal services, beneits assistance, case management and emergency preparedness. They also treated the seniors to lunch.

Sponsors who supported the event included Ameren Missouri, Save-a-Lot, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Keefe Group and Chartwell’s. Each sponsor provided resources; and were on hand to answer questions and interact directly with the participants.

Over 11,000 people attended the Back to School and Community Empowerment Festival at Chaifetz Arena.

Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly and Margaret McTague pose with back to school participants.

License Collector闇s Ofice employees Corey Hayes and Dawn Gann-Cruz educate children and parents about the ofice.

Left to Right: Brian Leonard Ameren, Marlene Davis Alderwoman 19th Ward, Ruth Smith CEO Human Development Corp., Dr. Kelvin Adams Superintendent SLPS, Scholarship winner Clay Stacy, Michael McMillan, Ida Woolfolk and scholarship winner Lavone Williams.

Collector of Revenue

Gregory F.X. Daly announces giveaways at the Back to School and Community Empowerment Festival.

good deeds good PeoPle.

Debra

K. Ratliff Gussie M.

John E. Roland, Jr Ms. Susan Rollins

Mr. and Mrs. Reginald and Ardina Scott Norman R. Seay

Ms. Toni Shipp-Worthy John Shivers

Ms. Betty J. Smith Crystal Ross-Smith and Patrick E. Smith, Sr. Deborah C. Smith

Ms.

Mr.

Ms.

Mr.

Robert J. and

Frederick Lee Webb Ms. Pamela A. Westbrooks

L. Whalen Johanna Wharton

Ms. Beverly White

Adrianne Williams

Nicole L. Williams Jennifer A. Willingham James R. Wood

Al D. Worthy

Builder $1,000 - $1,499

Mr. Yusuf A. Abdullah

Mr. Samuel I. Achilefu

Cynthia D. Ackins

Dr. Kelvin R. Adams Abe and Nicole Adewale

Lamar T. Agard

Andrew L. Alexander

Ms. Brenda K. Ali

Ms. Alike A. Anderson

Ingrid Anderson, M.D.

Ms. Melanie Anderson

Ms. Monica Anderson Christine Andrews

Mrs. Denise Anthony

Ms. Tamiko Armstead

Mr. Ken Ausmer

Mr. Dante C. Avery Ms. Jeanice Baker Cleo Ball

Ms. Brittany R. Banks Angela and

K. Craven

and Karen Davis Ms. Tiffany T.

Ms. Erica Hill

Roger Hines

Mr. Gerald Keith Hinton Sr.

Dr. Kimberly Hodge-Bell

Mrs. Traci L. Hodges

Ms. Aliah B. Holman

Gail Holmes Taylor

Ms. Diana Hopper

Ms. Katrina M. Hubbard

Ms. April E. Hughes

Ms. Stacy Y. Hune

Amy A. Hunter

Brian and Rhonda Hurd

Jacqueline Hutchinson

Ms. Kristina R. Ingram

Tom Irwin

Carlos Jackson

Carolyn A. Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Jackson

Ms. Cyeria Jackson

Francella Jackson

Hattie R. Jackson

Keith S. Jackson

Mr. Nathaniel Jackson

Steve B. Jackson

Ms. Rose Jackson-Beavers

Mr. Harry E. James

Jade D. James

Ralonda M. Jasper

Ms. Jacqueline Jenkins

Toi Jenkins

Mrs. LaTesha Lynnette Jewell

Ms. Danielle Johnson

Mr. Frederick Johnson

Ms. Keisa M. Johnson

Ms. Shirley Johnson

Ms. Stacy E. Johnson

Mrs. Carla Jointer

Debbie Jones

Ms. Denyse L. Jones

Jamillah Jones

Mr. Otha Jones

Ms. Patricia Jones

Ms. Rhonda Denise Jones

Dr. Roderick L. Jones

Ms. Shirley J. Jones

Vanessa C. Jones

Ms. Vera J. Jones

William B. Jones

Ms. Sandra Jordan

Ms. Sharon R. Jordan Rosetta Keeton

Ms. Kimberly S. Kendle-Roberson

Mr. Michael B. Kennedy, Jr. Mrs. Catrese Kilgore

Mrs. Kamarrah Killion

Mr. Wendell Kimbrough

Ms.

Felicia McGee

Ms. Joyce M. McKenny

Ms. Stephanie McKissic

Ms. Erica McLemore

Karen L. McMurray Cheryl McNeil

Mr. Tyrone McNichols

Keidra McNutt

Mr. and Mrs. Adrian D. McPherson

Ms. Gloria Meek, RN, MSN, ANP-BC, ACHPM Leah Anne Merrifield

Mr. Matthew Mickens

Deborah L. Miller

Ms. Jennifer Miller

Ms. Karen Frye Miller

Gloria Miller Bogus

Mr. Anthony R. Mitchell

Neuka B. Mitchell

Ms. Pertella L. Mitchell

Dianne Momon

Gail Montgomery-Edwards

Ms. Kimberly Donna Moore

Ms. Loretta M. Moore

Mrs. Terri D. Morris

Aubrey R. Morrison, M.D.

Mr. Earnest L. Muex, Jr.

Ms. Victoria Musa

Rosietta Muskin

Mrs. Christine

D. Nicks

Chukwudi Okafor

In 2010, more than 800 African-American Leadership – Charmaine Chapman Society members generously gave $1,000 or more to help our community through United Way of Greater St. Louis. Thank you.

Darius Miles arrested

ESL baller tries to take loaded gun through security

By now you may have heard of the recent arrest of former NBA player (and East Boogie native) Darius Miles for attempting to take a loaded pistol through airport security.

Since the tragedies of September 11, 2001, many folks (including myself) know the challenges associated with just trying to take a few extra toiletries or an Ipod through airport security without being humiliated. That’s been the case for the past decade.

Then how, on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, does a nearly 7-foot tall, 29-year-old man like Darius Miles conclude that he can simply walk through St. Louis-Lambert International Airport with a loaded gun?

Is he stupid, forgetful, immature, arrogant or some combination of all these things?

This isn’t about “hatin’ the player” but, rather, being increasingly frustrated with my East St. Louis “homey” who, despite being blessed with athletic ability, fame and fortune, has opted to squander it with dumb decision after dumb decision.

I’ve criticized Darius’ poor judgment and indiscretions before in this column, only to receive a phone call from Darius’ mom for having the audacity to attack her son.

Someone has got to teach Darius that life is more than having an entourage of ESL homeys in tow and a collection of pimped-out vehicles and that none of those things will do him any good if he lands behind bars due to his frequent lapses in judgment.

I don’t know, but it is probably the same attitude that got him suspended for 10 games during the 2008-09 NBA season for substance abuse or arrested in May 2009 by Fairview Heights police who said that they found marijuana in Miles’ car during a trafic stop, in which he also failed to use a turn signal and was driving with a suspended license. And it’s probably the same attitudinal issues that got him bounced from team to team for his lack of work ethic, tension between himself and coaches or simply missing practice.

Maybe Forest Gump said it best: “Stupid is as stupid does”.

He’s become so infamous that he was even highlighted, on a national level, as the “Bama of the Week” by Huggy Low Down of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, a distinction only attained by the most backward, inept or dysfunctional celebrities. Now Darius joins the fraternity of dumb athletes, along with the likes of Plexico Burris, Gilbert Arenas and Allen Iverson who all have had their own problems with guns. I only hope that between his frequent screw-ups, court appearances and media humiliation that he has something left by the time that he’s 40 years old and does not become a trivia question on HBO’s Real Sports, when Bryant Gumbel asks the question “Whatever happened to Darius Miles?” Email: jtingram_1960@ yahoo.com.

‘Say Amen’for mentoring

Mathews-Dickey beneit gala this Saturday

Special to The American Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club is celebrating the silver anniversary of its education program with a beneit concert and dinner reception, featuring award-winning recording artist A’ngela Winbush.

The Clifton Davis’ “Say Amen” gala takes place on Saturday, August 20 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, 1 S. Broadway. The black-tie reception and awards program begins at 5 p.m. in the Arch View Ballroom, with the concert held at 8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

n “Our alumni live up to our expectations, demonstrating the Club’s philosophy that academics and athletics can and should co-exist.”

– Martin Luther Mathews

The top honors, named in memory of charter event co-chairs Bill Maritz and Benjamin F. Edwards III, are bestowed upon Donald M. Suggs, president and publisher of the St. Louis American, and Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, respectively.

Other honorees are Academic Scholars — Tiffanie Toles, 17, and Jaylen Wilson, 16; Outstanding Computer Literacy Instruction Program (CLIP) Volunteers — Sharon Jacobs, information systems security user access, Edward Jones; and Willie Thomas, lead desktop specialist, Centene Corporation; Outstanding Tutor Volunteers — the late Obiora Chikeleze (posthu-

mous) and Erica McAdoo, budget analyst, St. Louis Public Schools; Outstanding Youth Volunteers — Eriyon Bailey, 16, and Charlie Soffner, 12; and Scholar Athletes — Ronald Harris, III, 18, and Jaidah Stewart, 12. Winbush has sold 10 million albums and singles worldwide, yielding 20 Top 30 and three number one R&B singles. The St. Louis native grew up singing in her church, gained success in the R&B duo Rene & A’ngela, and later reached acclaim as a solo artist and songwriter for Janet Jackson, Stephanie Mills and other artists. Ticket prices include the preevent dinner reception and concert, with all proceeds beneiting the Club’s Education Program.

The 2011 “Say Amen” lead chairman, Ameren Corporation Chairman, President, CEO Tom Voss, is mobilizing community support for the fund-raiser. NewsChannel 5 “Today in St. Louis” anchor Art Holliday and KMOX Radio’s “Overnight in St. Louis” Host Jon Grayson preside over the awards program. The fun-illed evening features a special appearance by actor and Rev. Clifton Davis, and pre-concert entertainment by Outstanding Club Alumnus Jamie “King James” Dennis.

“The Mathews-Dickey Education Program brings tre-

mendous value to the lives of so many children,” said Voss. “Ameren is proud to produce a special ‘memorability’ album featuring 25 alumni success stories for 25 outstanding years!”

“Our alumni live up to our expectations, demonstrating the Club’s philosophy that academics and athletics can and should co-exist,” said Mathews-Dickey President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Luther Mathews. “We’re grateful to Ameren for helping us showcase this small sampling of the many thousands who’ve come through our doors.”

“Say Amen” has generated more than $2 million since its inception, to continue

St. Louis native A’ngela Winbush headlines MathewsDickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club’s “Say Amen” gala August 20 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark.

the Club’s volunteer tutorial services, expand after-school activities through computer literacy instruction, and introduce career training, mentors and college scholarships via “The Sky is the Limit” and “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series” — beneiting thousands of Club members and students from local school districts. Through its outreach efforts, Mathews-Dickey has nourished the development and growth of City Academy, the St. Louis Internship Program and many other endeavors aimed at reaching out to St. Louis youth. For more information, call Barbara A. Washington or Bill Fronczak at 314-382-5952, ext. 234.

James Ingram

No news, except bad news for Kinder

Even the 21st century’s 24/7 constant news cycle with its endless succession of talking heads dissecting the same facts, factoids, rumors and innuendos can’t quite stand up to the ageless reality of the dog days of summer, when the vacations (such as they were) are ending and the children are going back to school – and there just is not that much going on.

In this void of news, Missouri’s congressional redistricting map battle was sent to the courts, which was hardly unexpected and therefore not really news; and Mayor Francis G. Slay began to call people and tell them he planned to run for mayor again, which was hardly unexpected either and therefore not really news either.

On the redistricting tip, there was a licker of news instigated, almost, by state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed. She issued a press release last Thursday, August 11, stating that she planned to submit an alternate map to the House Redistricting Commission. That might have been news had it arrived on time. The problem is, the last date for public comment and submission of alternative maps was way back on May 25

the 2010 Census. According to data retrieved from the Ofice of Administration, over 22,000 people in that exodus occurred in African-American districts. If each district is supposed to represent approximately 36,000 people and 22,000 people left North St. Louis City, the city’s majority-black districts unfortunately are on the chopping block to lose a seat.

In fact, the commission met on the same day Nasheed planned to submit her map. The vote was straight down party lines for the inal Democrat and Republican maps. Since the commissions could not agree on either map, their work is essentially over and will be handed over to a judicial commission on or after September 18. Nasheed stated, “The Nasheed Plan would preserve the African American Representation from the City of St. Louis. The commission’s proposal would reduce the number of African Americans currently serving in the Missouri House. African Americans are already underrepresented. We cannot allow our inluence to be diminished even further.”

St. Louis city lost 29,000 people in

Although state Rep. Jeanette Mott-Oxford is serving in her inal term, it wasn’t feasible to split her district among the surrounding representatives without drastically altering their district. Also, the EYE inds it contradictory that although “The Nasheed Plan” (are we supposed to hear an echo of “the Marshall Plan?”) is designed to “avoid contentious primary battles between incumbents,” it drew state Reps. Tishaura Jones and Penny Hubbard in the same district.

The EYE took a look at the map that the Democratic commissioners approved, and it clearly has Hubbard and Nasheed drawn into the same district. That, friends, is payback for “sleeping with the enemy” and voting with Republicans to overturn Nixon’s veto of the Congressional Redistricting Map last spring, which eliminated the congressional district of Democratic Congressman Russ Carnahan

The EYE can’t blame Nasheed for trying to protect her porkchop, but her ef-

forts were too little, too late. No news.

The Lewis whisperers

As for the Slay mayoral bid, it’s important to note that the Post-Dispatch has started to make allusions to a potential mayoral challenge when it mentions aldermanic President Lewis Reed. The Post is as good a place as any to read what Slay’s team thinks and wants city residents to think, so it’s safe to say Slay thinks he can beat Reed and would like Reed’s status as The Potential Black Challenger to get cemented early, so that no one else (except, perhaps, another black man with the last name Reed) gets in the race. Just a thought.

Cruel to be Kinder

One thing that might count as news is that The Riverfront Times did a story about a former stripper that people actually read and discussed. In this case, the woman who previously worked the stages of gentlemen’s clubs now tends bar at a tavern where the help sometimes goes pantsless. She was photographed at her new place of employment, smiling beside Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, who will be the Republicans’ choice for governor if he doesn’t keep making bad news like this. It might not have been so bad for

There is less going down now on some of the 21st Ward’s previously highest-crime streets since Alderman Antonio D. French developed and implemented a plan for surveillance cameras in his ward. Oficer Quianna Dickerson and ADT design engineer technologist Tony Drago demonstrated the new system inside the 21st Ward’s new police substation recently.

Photo by Wiley Price

Kinder to be photographed alongside this woman had the RFT not gotten a hold of her and found her to be an intelligent, convincing and credible source who told detailed and believable stories about Kinder’s allegedly boorish and borderline abusive behavior when visiting her as an allegedly regular client at the strip joint where she worked when Kinder was a Missouri state senator.

After a couple of days of hoping the story would go away (and, the EYE presumes, iguring out what he could and couldn’t get away with denying), Kinder issued a somewhat creepy statement acknowledging that he was not “proud of all the places he has been” (truly an awful piece of language in a statement meant to make things better) but that the woman was lying about his past behavior.

If Kinder does run for governor, his primary opponents will have fun connecting this story to his frequent hotel stays in St. Louis – and, now, his campaign apartment in St. Louis County, where the waitress told the RFT Kinder had invited her to live (Kinder denied this too). If Kinder does not run for governor, would the Republicans please ind somebody else who loves and appreciates St. Louis as much as Kinder does? Or even half as much, which would still be more than Gov. Jay Nixon seems to think about this place?

No Talent in MO Senate

Speaking of the Missouri Senate, the EYE made a mistake about that august body last week. Jeff Smith has sent many notes of correction to the Political EYE, but never one this tame: “Jim Talent never served in the MO Senate. He was the Republican Leader in the state House.” The EYE was mistaken by the parallel logic of what Talent reportedly told Smith – that it was the Missouri Senate, not the U.S. Senate, that deserves bragging rights as the world’s greatest deliberative body.

Prof Jeff

With Jeff Smith on the line, the EYE asked him for an update. He said, “I’m teaching in the graduate school of public policy at the New School in NYC. This semester, I’m teaching ‘Power, Strategy, and Social Change,’ which, as the name implies, will explore the ingredients necessary (i.e., money? media? grassroots activism? legislative support?) to generate sweeping social change – and how to create the conditions that help these ingredients lourish.

Case studies include the Civil Rights Movement, immigration reform, and urban education reform; students will read John Lewis’s memoir Walking With the Wind, and to understand the other side’s world-view, The Politics of Rage, Dan Carter’s history of the George Wallace phenomenon. Next semester I’ll be teaching ‘The Legislative Process” and “Race and Ethnicity in Urban Politics.’ Perhaps if Doc comes to town he can guest lecture in the latter course – I think he knows a thing or two about it.” Doc – St. Louis American publisher and executive editor Donald M. Suggs – just might take Jeff up on the offer.

McKinney on Libya

Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who recently returned from leading a delegation to Libya in opposition to the U.S. and NATO actions in Libya, will speak 7 p.m. Friday, August 19 at Busch Student Center (Wool Room) on St. Louis University Campus. A $10 donation is appreciated but no one will be turned away. For more info, call 314-4549005 or 314-477-4629.

Black and gay in America

With the recent strides made in advancing the rights of gays, some may be thinking that this country has entered a post-homophobic period. The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in the U.S. military is about to be history on paper. In the last decade, nearly a quarter of the states have passed same-sex marriage, civil union or domestic partnership laws. The recent cover of Black Enterprise magazine features Sabin Blake of General Motors in its story about black gays in corporate America. But just like some people prematurely proclaimed a post-racial America with the election of the first black president, we now see that we are closer to looking like the segregated America prior to 1964. White supremacists have been fanning the flames of racism, and black folks are feeling the heat. Literally. The recent incident of white men beating and driving over the body of James Anderson in Jackson, Mississippi is just one shocking example, this one captured on videotape. Homosexuals in this country are often the target of hate crimes. Gay-bashing and bullying are no strangers to a society where white, male and straight have been deemed the norm. This patriarchal view means that the majority of us don’t fit into that narrow mold. It also means that we must constantly be challenging the system that is discriminatory, exclusionary and oppressive.

dles. The sports arena and the black church present special challenges due to the macho nature of sports and because of the claim that the Bible condemns homosexuality.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community is always seeking genuine allies in their fight for fairness and civil rights. Well-meaning people who are struggling to understand a lifestyle that’s often demonized, misinterpreted and ridiculed should go straight to the source: the organizations and writings of the members themselves. They are our family members, our co-workers and our friends. They are in our churches, workplaces, unions and in our sororities and fraternities.

Those of us who believe in equal rights for all must be about just that and not singling out who gets human rights and who doesn’t. It is slicker version of divide and conquer; it’s about the “other” and you will always be in someone else’s “other” if you are poor, a person of color, female, gay, etc.

Black gays have always been an integral part of our communities and made vital contributions to this country. The sexual orientation of people like Langston Hughes, Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, Bayard Rustin, Audre Lorde and a host of other literary geniuses and civil rights activists is still hidden as part of their human existence. More contemporary figures like Wanda Sykes, Sheryl Swoopes, Alice Walker and, recently, CNN’s Don Lemon still have societal hur-

Don Lemon made the decision to “come out” when he was writing his memoir Transparent. He cited one of his reasons was due to the “hostile world” and difficulties that gay and black youth face as they struggle with their identities. For sure, the bullying and gay-bashing among young people is alarming, but they are learning their attitudes from biased grown folks. The suicide rate among gays is an anguished cry for help that is still falling on the death ears of parents, schools, faith leaders and youth organizations.

As the St. Louis Black Pride puts the finishing touches on its 14th annual Black Pride weekend, consider it an opportunity to reach out and raise your own consciousness about prejudice towards this sector of our society. August 19-21 will be a celebration of the human family. We are family.

Ruth Smith recognized for service

Photo by Carl J. Bruce

We owe our youth high expectations

By Orvin Kimbrough

For The St. Louis American

A mentor once told me that most people will rise to the level of expectation that you have and articulate for them, so be wise in your words. I have found this statement to be truer among children. Over the last several weeks, my wife and I visited young people residing at Good Shepherd, a United Way member agency, and those participating in the Ferring Scholars program through St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University. The nature of our conversation was consistent with

both groups, though they reflect two entirely different realities. Good Shepherd is a foster home for children who may also be parents. All of the young people with whom we visited at Good Shepherd were African-American. The Ferring Scholars program seems to aggregate highly motivated students and expose them to health care/biomedical research and other disciplines. Every young person in both programs could talk about his or her vision for the future with varying degrees of conviction. There was significantly less conversation about higher education at Good Shepherd. One of the young people at the group home asked, “What would you tell someone who feels like giving up?” There was dead silence in the group for a moment before my response. This question reminds me of

our role as adults to stimulate imagination that inspires something for young people to believe in and to fight for. With more than 20 percent of young people in America living in poverty, many surrounded by violence and a culture that esteems prison, any one of them could make the case for giving up. We see this choice played out daily on our evening news. It is up to the adults to do everything within our power to remove obstacles to the success of our region’s children and to speak words of life and higher expectation to them. I remain appreciative to those who did this for me.

Orvin Kimbrough is senior vice president at United Way of Greater St. Louis. He serves as finance chair of Missouri State University and has master degrees in social work, business and theology.

CNN’s Don Lemon still is the most recent successful African American to come out as gay.

Ruth A. Smith, the retiring longtime president of the Human Development Corporation, recently received recognition from Missouri Associatons of Community Action for her many years of services to HDC and the community.

Orvin Kimbrough

Jamala Rogers

A memorial to MLK is not enough

By Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay

For The St. Louis American

Recently, I was fortunate to join with some of my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus on a preview tour of the new national monument commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

President Obama will dedicate the new King Memorial on August 28, which is also the 48th anniversary of Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream Speech” during the 1963 March on Washington.

Located on the National Mall, Dr. King’s magniicent likeness looks out on our nation’s capitol with a powerful gaze that transcends generations to remind us that while his dream transformed America, much work remains to be done in order to inish the mission that he ultimately gave his life for.

With the beautiful symmetry of history, our irst African-American president will deliver the keynote address at the dedication. I know that President Obama and the rest of my fellow African-American national elected leaders are ever mindful of all the brave souls who came before us, and upon whose shoulders we still stand today.

I recall Dr. King’s stirring speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial from the perspective of a seven-year-old, who gathered with my family and our neighbors in the back yard of our home on Clemons Place in St. Louis.

My parents had used the longest extension cord we could ind to set up the TV outside, so I knew that something big was about to happen.

Even as a very young man, Dr. King’s words moved me and I knew that because of him, our country and the entire world would never be the same.

For my family, the Civil

Rights Movement wasn’t just something that we watched on the evening news. We grew up in the struggle, and I was privileged to be old enough to witness history myself.

On the very same day that Dr. King delivered his historic speech in 1963, my father, former Congressman Bill Clay, was in the midst of leading the landmark Jefferson Bank civil rights protests in St. Louis. That courageous action, which included his arrest and false

n In the end, if we truly want to honor Dr. King, this beautiful memorial is not enough.

incarceration for more than 100 days, lasted for many months.

But in the end, my father and his brave colleagues were vindicated, the chains of segregation and employment discrimination were shattered in St. Louis, and he went on to become the irst African American elected to Congress from Missouri. I thought about all of that history as our group took in the power and beauty of Dr. King’s memorial.

Alarming increase in HIV for blacks

American staff

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s irst multi-year estimates from its national HIV incidence surveillance inds alarming increases in HIV infections among young black men who have sex with men (MSM).

CDC estimates that new HIV infections among young, black MSM increased 48 percent – from 4,400 HIV infections in 2006 to 6,500 infections in 2009. They are the only subpopulation to experience a sustained increase during the time period while overall the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States was relatively stable at approximately 50,000 new infections each year.

The new estimates were published last week in the online scientiic journal PLoS ONE. The estimates are based on direct measurement of new HIV infections with a laboratory test that can distinguish recent from long-standing HIV infections.

“Not only do men who have sex with men continue to account for most new infections, young gay and bisexual men are the only group in which infections are increasing, and this increase is particularly concerning among young AfricanAmerican MSM ,” said CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D.

“HIV infections can be prevented. By getting tested, reducing risky behaviors, and getting treatment, people can protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Studies suggest that several factors may be driving this trend: higher proportions of young, black MSM are unaware of their infection than MSM of other racial/ethnic groups; stigma of HIV and homosexuality, which can hinder utilization of HIV prevention services; limited access to health care, HIV testing and treatment; increased likelihood of having older sexual partners (who are more likely to be HIV-infected),

Then I looked over at my good friends who were experiencing this profound moment with me: Congressman John Lewis of Georgia; Congressman John Conyers of Michigan; Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina; Congressman Charles Rangel of New York; the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri; and one of Dr. King’s closest aides, the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.

All of them either worked directly with or were close followers of Dr. King. They displayed immense courage in the face of brutal racial hatred and violence, and collectively they have rendered decades of service to our nation.

As we looked at Dr. King’s likeness, we didn’t say much, because the silence was far too powerful for mere words.

While standing in Dr. King’s shadow, it occurred to me that his memorial is the only federal monument along the Mall that does not commemorate a U.S. president or a war. And that may just be God’s way of reminding us what Dr. King was really all about. Not the power of armies or political leaders, but the power of love, nonviolence, brotherhood and the relentless pursuit of justice.

The power of love as the only antidote to hate; the power of the truth in the face of ignorance and intolerance; and the power that average American’s still have when we stand up and demand that our country must deliver on all the promises that our Constitution makes, to each of us.

The highest honor we could pay him would be to renew our personal commitment as people of faith to stand up against injustice wherever we see it, and regardless of the political mood of the moment to recall, as Dr. King taught us, that we truly are our brother’s keeper.

Normandy opens Barack Obama Elementary

Students, school officials, parents and political representatives helped Normandy Schools Superintendent Stanton Lawrence cut the ribbon on the new Barack Obama Elementary School in Pine Lawn recently. Among the political representatives in attendance were state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, state Rep. Clem

Pine Lawn Mayor Sylvester Caldwell and Mattie Moore from the office of U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. Normandy School Board President Cozy W. Marks III (not pictured) spoke at the event in praise of parental support for district efforts. Normandy students returned to school on Monday.

compared to MSM of other racial/ethnic groups; higher rates of some sexually transmitted diseases among young black men, which can facilitate HIV transmission; and under-estimating personal risk for HIV.

“We are deeply concerned by the alarming rise in new HIV infections in young, black gay and bisexual men and the continued impact of HIV among young gay and bisexual men of all races,” said Jonathan Mermin, M.D., director of CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.

“We cannot allow the health of a new generation of gay men to be lost to a preventable disease. It’s time to renew the focus on HIV among gay men and confront the homophobia and stigma that all too often accompany this disease.”

The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to exact a heavy toll on communities of color. While blacks represent 14 percent of the total U.S. population, the new estimates ind that they accounted for 44 percent of new HIV infections in 2009.

The HIV infection rate among blacks in 2009 was almost eight times as high as that of whites. The HIV infection rate among black men was the highest of any group by race and sex – more than six times that of white men – and the rate among black women was 15 times that of white women.

There was no statistically signiicant change in HIV incidence from 2006 to 2009 overall, among black men or black women.

Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention said new infections have “plateaued at an unacceptably high level.”

“Without intensiied HIV prevention efforts, we are likely to face an era of rising infection rates and higher health care costs for a preventable condition that already affects more than one million people in this country,” Fenton said.

Smith,

Photo by Wiley Price

Displaying jackets to be distributed to area children during National Health Center Week, from left are: Aimee James, assistant professor of surgery, Washington University School of Medicine; Courtney Beers, assistant research scientist, Washington University School of Medicine; Barbara Bailey, Grace Hill’s vice president/chief operating oficer; and Jewel Desiree Stafford, research lab supervisor Washington University School of Medicine. James, Beers, and Stafford are all afiliated with Siteman Cancer Center’s Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities.

Special to The American

In recognition of National Health Center Week, (Aug. 7-13), Grace Hill Health Centers hosted health fairs at each

of its sites to demonstrate its focus on prevention and treatment. Each fair offered blood pressure screenings, immunizations, irst aid demonstrations and health education. As a member of the St. Louis Integrated Health Network, GHHC joined other community health centers in sponsoring Staff Appreciation Day and back to school fairs. During Staff Appreciation Day, each community health center will provide free pizza lunches to its staff. At the back to school fairs, children received immunization, book bags and other school supplies.

Also, during National Health Center Week and on behalf of an anonymous donor, GHHC distributed more than 3,000 jackets to children whose family members are breast cancer patients or survivors, and families of patients with heart complications. The donation, valued at $21,883, comes on the heels of an earlier one GHHC received in the form of men’s and women’s apparel. That gift was valued at $31,709. The St. Louis Regional Breast Navigator Workgroup, in association with the Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities, is collaborating with GHHC on the distribution of 1,400 jackets to clients served by their organizations. For more information, call 314-898-1700 or visit www. gracehill.org.

Grace Hill Health Centers honors National Health Center Week First academic journal on black

male studies

Indiana University Press partners with The Ohio State University

Special to The American Indiana University Press has announced it will publish the irst academic journal focused on the subject of black masculinity.

Spectrum, published in partnership with the Department of African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University, will be a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary research journal whose articles focus on issues related to aspects of black men’s experiences, including topics such as gender, masculinities, and race/ethnicity.

Spectrum will examine the social, political, economic, and historical factors that inluence the life chances and experiences of African-descended males using disciplinary and interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives, empirical methods, theoretical analysis, and literary criticism, according to Janet Rabinowitch, director of Indiana University Press.

Housed in the Department of African American and African Studies at the Ohio State University, the editorial board includes faculty from colleges across the country, with interests ranging from English and Sociology to Education Policy and Leadership. The journal will be published semiannually beginning March 2012. Submission inquiries can be sent to the ofice of H. Ike Okafor-Newsum, newsum2@

BUSINESS

– 24, 2011

St.Louis Community Credit Union recently opened a branch at the Metropolitan Education and Training Center,located at

6347 Plymouth Ave.in Wellston.The branch opening was supported and attended by many of the region’s most senior African-American elected officials,including County Executive Charlie A.Dooley,state Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Lewis Reed,president of the Board of Aldermen for the City of St.Louis.Patrick Adams ,president of St.Louis Community Credit Union (the tall man in the back row) also attended.

St. Louis Community Credit Union opens Wellston branch

Banks partner with Regional Unbanked Task Force at Black Expo

By Chris King Of The St.Louis American

St. Louis Community Credit Union

recently opened a branch at the Metropolitan Education and Training Center, located at 6347 Plymouth Ave. in Wellston, part of the credit union’s strategy to bring mainstream banking services to underserved markets in its service area, which includes the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County in Missouri, and St. Clair, Madison, Monroe and Jersey counties in Illinois.

“We are about creating cashflow in the household through value in financial services.”

– Patrick Adams,president of St.Louis Community Credit Union

In 2010, St. Louis Community Credit Union grew its assets (currently valued at more than $207 million) by 9.1 percent. It experienced a 10.8 percent growth in new members (with more than 40,000 total members) compared to a 1.6 percent industry average, according to its website.

Habitat

Patrick Adams is president of St. Louis Community Credit Union, and Gerald Brooks, an African American, is chairman of its Board of Directors.

Adams, who maintains a blog about the credit union’s work, has written passionately about the economic crisis in black communities and the need to build wealth in black households.

Adams blogged about the recent Pew Research Center study on wealth in America with reported that the disparity in household income between minority and white families

URBAN JOBS ACTWOULD TRAINUNSKILLED MINORITYYOUTH

Marc H.Morial For The NNPA

Economic downturn and more stringent process result in homes surplus

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of The St.Louis American

For the first time in 25 years and 300 homes, Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis does not have a waiting list. In fact, houses scheduled for construction don’t have owners and are up for purchase.

The nonprofit is well-known for providing affordable housing. However, with the present economic climate, Habitat has had to toughen up its qualifying requirements for its homebuyer’s program.

Required income levels are higher, credit expectations are stricter and debt-toincome ratios are lower.

“We want to make sure that we are selecting people who will be successful long term,” said Avis Laden, Habitat’s family selection and support manager. “We are looking for families who have learned to live on budget and live within their

See HABITAT, B2

This program would give city organizations the tools and resources they need to help our youth prepare for future jobs, find employment opportunities, and reach their full potential.”– New York Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand

Despite all the attention paid in recent months to spending cuts, there are some members of Congress who agree with the National Urban League that the nation’s number one priority must be job creation and putting America back to work. Months ago, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and New York Representative Edolphus Towns introduced the Urban Jobs Act that would provide much-needed federal funding to non-profit organizations engaged in preparing at-risk youth, ages 18-24, for the world of work.

Marc H. Morial

Assemblyman Keith Wright, and New York Urban League President, Arva Rice.

All of us agree: the nation’s recovery cannot be complete until we bring jobs and hope back to hard pressed urban communities. More than one-third of the nation’s minority youth are unemployed. But, even with 14 million Americans out of work, at least 2 million jobs remain unfilled because employers can’t find workers with the needed skills.

Even with 14 million Americans out of work, at least 2 million jobs remain unfilled because employers can’t find workers with the needed skills.

The Urban Jobs Act would help close that gap by targeting federal funding to assist urban youth, many of whom have dropped out of school or are in need of a second chance, in obtaining the education and skills necessary for success in the labor market.This would help reduce youth unemployment, provide workers for open jobs and strengthen the economy.

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

Gregory Lee Jr. has been elected the 19th president of the National Association of Black Journalists. Lee, the senior assistant sports editor at The Boston Globe and the current NABJ treasurer, won the election with 294 votes, 57 percent of the vote, defeating opponent Deirdre Childress of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The 37 year-old is the youngest elected president of the 3,400 member organization. He has also worked for The Times-Picayune and The Washington Post

Evelyn Bailey has been selected as the new K-Level Manager of the F15 Navigation/Identification Integrated Product Team at Boeing. Previously she was assigned to the F15 Program Office, where she supported multiple F-15 International and FMS programs as a lead Avionics Engineer.She holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Engineering Management from Washington University.

Caitlin Parker of Maryland Heights has been promoted to the position of training coordinator at Saint Louis Crisis Nursery. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Maryville University and is in the university’s Masters of Counseling in Community Counseling program. The Crisis Nursery is an independent, not-for-profit agency that provides a short-term, safe haven for children through age 12 whose families are faced with an emergency or crisis.

Ethiopia Habtemariam has been promoted to senior vice president of Motown Records. Habtemariam has also been promoted to executive vice president/head of urban music for Universal Music Publishing Group. She previously served as senior vice president/head of urban music for the company. Motown’s roster of artists will include such chart-toppers as Stevie Wonder, Babyface and Chrisette Michele, as well as the newly signed Luke James.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Bioscience company will bring 80 jobs to St. Louis

SyMyCo, an international bioscience company and a new tenant at the Danforth Plant Science Center, will create 80 new jobs in Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon announced last week alongside company and community leaders.

“With 4,000 bio-tech, agribusiness and life science companies, Missouri is a recognized leader in biotechnology and a growing international center of biopharmaceuticals, biomedical research and plant science,” Nixon said.

SyMyco is a subsidiary of Symbiotic Sciences Ltd. which is headquartered in New Delhi, India and is a joint venture partner with Mycorrhizal Applications Inc., an Oregon company. The company’s products reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, while increasing crop yield and resistance to weeds and disease.

Company president Aditya Malhotra said

SyMyCo’s decision to choose Missouri and BRDG Park was directly influenced by its proximity to the world’s largest independent plant science institute and its state-of-the-art greenhouses and other facilities.

To help attract SyMyCo, the State of Missouri authorized a targeted incentive package that includes a low-interest loan of $250,000 from the Missouri Technology Corp. to build a specialized growth chamber, and $1 million in Missouri Quality Jobs Program tax credits. The company would receive the Quality Jobs tax credits only after creating the required number of jobs that pay competitive wages and include health insurance coverage.

City keeps A+ credit rating despite federal debt downgrade

Last week St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green reassured city of St. Louis taxpayers and bondholders that the city’s A+ credit rating remains strong in light of Standard & Poor’s downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt over the previous weekend.

On Tuesday of this week, Gillibrand, Towns and I participated in a press conference at the New York Urban League in Harlem to generate greater Congressional and public support for this important legislation.We were joined by New York Congressman Charles Rangel, NY

The average unemployment rate for minority youths in urban communities in July was approximately 39 percent for African Americans and 36 percent for Latinos.In New York, these minority youth are twice as likely to drop out of school and make up

“The city continues to take proactive steps to make certain its conservative fiscal policy and balanced budget remain the cornerstone for our long-term financial stability,” said Comptroller Green.

In 2008, during the height of the nation’s financial crisis when many other cities had their debt downgraded, S&Praised the city of St. Louis’long-term credit rating to A+ with a stable outlook. This represented the highest credit rating for the city in 35 years.

Evelyn Bailey

See BANKS,

Gregory Lee Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price

Caitlin Parker

Ethiopia Habtemaria

In 1884, Charles Henry Dow averaged the closing prices of 11 stocks he considered representative of the strength of the U.S. economy in a paper that preceded The Wall Street Journal. By 1896, The Wall Street Journal was publishing this average on a regular basis, and the most famous indicator of stock market performance was born: the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIAor Dow).

Most people have heard of the Dow, as well as a few other well-known stock indexes that track the overall direction of the market. Indexes and averages serve as useful benchmarks against which investors can measure the performance of their own portfolios. Depending on its makeup, a stock index can give investors some idea about the state of the market as a whole or a certain sector of the market.

Conceptually, a shift in the price of an index represents an equitable change in the stocks included in the index.

Basically, indexes are imaginary portfolios of securities that represent a particular market or section of the market. Each index has its own method of calculating a change in its base value, often expressed as a percentage change. Thus,

HABITAT

Continued from B1

means.”

The families have to be stable enough that they will be able to handle the mortgage for 25 to 30 years, she said. The last thing Habitat wants is to see families facing foreclosure in the long term.

“We have seen a number of families who are struggling to make their mortgages,” she said. “We are working with them to keep them track. If they get into a jam, we are

What is a stock index?

you might hear that an index has risen or fallen by a certain percentage. Although you can’t invest directly in an unmanaged index, you can invest in an index mutual fund that attempts to mirrora particular index by investing in the securities that comprise the index. The performance of an unmanaged index is not indicative of the performance of any specific investment.

Mutual funds are soldby prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

All the stocks in an index typically have at least one element in common. They might trade on the same stock market exchange, belong to the same industry, or have similar market capitalizations. Some of the more widely known indexes are the Dow, the S&P500, the Nasdaq Composite, the Wilshire 5000, and the Russell 2000.

there to support them through it.”

The number of qualified homebuyer applicants has also declined because of the uncertainty in the employment market, she said. An example of a qualifying applicant is a couple who earns between $18,000 and $35,000, or a family of four that earns between $22,000 and $40,000. Although Habitat has made their requirements stricter, Laden said they are still providing affordable housing alternatives to substandard housing.

PERSONAL FINANCE

The Dow Jones Industrial Average

By Charles Ross

The Dow is an index of widely held “blue-chip” stocks that is used as an indicator of the performance of U.S. industrial stocks. Unlike most other major indexes, the stocks in the Dow are unweighted by market capitalization.The 30 stocks included in the Dow are all major factors in their industries. Many have become household names: American Express, Boeing, Coca-Cola, General Electric, HewlettPackard, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Walt Disney, and Wal-Mart.

S&P 500

and Amgen, are listed there. TheNASDAQ Stock Exchange was established in 1971 as the world’s first electronic stock market.

Charles Ross

Because some stocks influence the market more than others, each stock is given a different weight when the calculations are made. This is called “market-capitalization weighting,” which is the type of weighting used for the Nasdaq Composite, the Wilshire 5000, and the Russell 2000. Over 70% of all U.S. equity is tracked by the S&P500.

Nasdaq Composite Index

The Standard & Poor’s 500 is an index of 500 of the most widely held stocks — leading companies from all sectors of the economy — chosen for their market size, liquidity, and industry group representation.

“We’re still building brandnew houses at zero interest, and they are still at an affordable mortgage rate, between $400 and $450,” she said, “and that includes taxes and insurance.”

The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation system, or NASDAQ, represents all domestic and non-U.S. based common stocks traded on TheNASDAQ Stock Market. It includes over 3,000 companies — more than most other stock indexes —many of which are in the technological field. Of course, The NASDAQ Stock Market isn’t restricted to technology issues. Many other well-known companies, such as Starbucks

“We are looking for families who have learned to live on budget and live within their means.”

– Avis Laden,Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis

This year was the first year Habitat started a “pre-screen” phase where applicants complete a questionnaire about income, credit and debt-to-income ratio.

Laden said this alone weeds out a lot of nonqualifying applicants. If the applicant passed this phase, then CitiMortgage reviews the files and makes the decision to proceed. The prospective homebuyer would then fill out conventional loan and meet with a Habitat staff member for review. A Habitat representative would make a home visit and assess

Wilshire 5000

Probably the most broadly based market index is the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index. Originally comprising 5,000 stocks, the Wilshire 5000 now uses more than 5000 market capitalization–weighted security returns to adjust the index. Theindex tracks the overall performance of stocks actively traded on the American stock exchanges; the companies are all headquartered in the United States.

Russell 2000

Started in 1972, the Russell 2000 Index gauges the performance of 2,000 “small cap” stocks that are often omitted from large indexes. This market capitalization–weighted index serves as a benchmark for small-cap U.S. stocksand could beuseful for tracking small companies with growth potential.

***********

Market indexes are useful

the need of the applicant

based on how they are currently living.

“Need” is one of the major components of the Habitat Homebuyers program, she said.

Upon acceptance into the program, Habitat asks that homebuyers attend a series of workshops on finance and budgeting, being a good neighbor, and home maintenance.Each family is required to complete 350 hours of “sweat equity.” Ninety of these hours must be completed within their partner community.This pro-

for assessing the historical performance of investment portfolios over time, but they don’t reveal important details about the companies they track. They also have certain biases inherent in their statistical calculations. Remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

If your portfolio lags substantially behind a corresponding index, it may be time to reevaluate and reallocate assets. Be sure to select an appropriate index as your benchmark. For example, comparing a small-cap stock portfolio to the Dow Jones Industrial Average may not be very meaningful; comparing it to the Russell 2000 Index would be more appropriate. When selecting stocks, it’s prudent to keep an eye on long-term performance based on certain fundamentals that may or may not be subject to market trends.

Charles Ross is host of the syndicated radio program “Your Personal Finance.”

Contact him at P.O. Box 870928; Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087; or email to charles@ charlesross.com.

vides an opportunity for families to become familiar with their future community and neighbors.

“Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis believes everyone deserves the basic human right of a safe, stable, and comfortable home,” Laden said.

Information on Habitat’s Homebuyer program can be found on-line at habitatstl.org. Interested homebuyers can request an application by calling 314371-0400, or by going on-line at habitatstl.org.

UMSLdean emeritus to discuss city, county merger

Charles Schmitz, dean emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, will discuss the benefits of merging St. Louis city and St. Louis County at 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 in the Student Government Chamber at the Millennium Student Center.

Schmitz co-founded the organization, St. Louis is a World Class City (stlworldclasscity.com/). The not-for-profit, grassroots effort hopes to merge the city and county together for the benefit of the area, to lay the foundation for St. Louis County to extend its boundaries to include St. Louis city.

Breakfast and networking will begin at 7:30 a.m. The event is free to the public. The Millennium Student Center is on UMSL’s North Campus, 1 University Blvd. in St. Louis County (63121). Reservations are required. Call 314-516-5883 to reserve a spot.

“Hopefully, in the future, I can actually be somewhat of a good individual, and a good father to my kids.”

– Dennis Rodman,during his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame

RAMS ROUNDUP

With Palmer L.Alexander III

Defense looks toughened Rams beat Colts 33-10 in pre-season opener

INSIDE SPORTS

The defense is in its third year together and it’s starting to show.

The St. Louis Rams took another step forward with a decisive win 33-10 over the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener at the Edward Jones Dome. It didn’t matter to me that the Colts were without the services of quarterback Peyton Manning. This transformation of the Rams is taking full shape before our eyes. It was just three years ago that Steve Spagnuolo was taking over the reigns as new head coach. In his first season, the Rams were a disastrous 1-15. But, like any coach he has to get his guys in here and then implement his system. It was a grind for the defensive minded head coach and his first year defensive coordinator Ken Flajoe. And don’t get it wrong; 1-15 is 1-15. Afew of those games were winnable for the Rams, but they just couldn’t catch any breaks. But, they kept battling and had a surprising 7-9 season last year and were one game away from the playoffs. Now the defense is in its third year together and it’s starting to show.

In the scrimmage the previous week, the defense had a couple of interceptions and dropped another one. So, the talk was that the defense is always going to be a step ahead of the offense. That maybe true to some degree, however we’re now referring to a live game against an opponent different instead of a practice against teammates.

The Rams forced a turnover with an interception on the first possession of the game. The beauty of that play was some last second adjustments by the Rams secondary. When safety Darian Stewart came up to the line to show blitz, the Colts countered by having a running back run in the flats. Stewart picked up running back and then Colts quarterback threw an interception to new Rams free safety Quintin Mikell. The interception set up the Rams first touchdown.

This Rams defense will employ many different looks. At one point, the Rams showed the old 46 defense look. It’s very encour-

St.Louis Rams running back Cadillac Williams rushes for an 11-yard gain before being brought down by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers during first quarter action of an NFL preseason football game at the Edward Jones Dome Saturday night.

aging to see the progress this team has made over the last three years, especially on the defensive side of the football. There is plenty of competition at every position on the defense. And just for that alone that gives

the Rams an edge in the NFC West division. With just about every team in the division trying to rebuild on both sides of the ball, the Rams can at least rest assure, that the last three years has put them in a great position. A

position to finally be relevant again without a circus.

Any questions comments email me Livnlegend@hotmail.com or on Facebook.

Summerhoops dreams

St. Louis ballers excel in summer leagues

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St.Louis American

After a stellar summer of 2010 where the St. Louis area saw the emergence of Bradley Beal, B.J. Young and Ben McLemore as national prep basketball stars, it was another solid summer for young ballers from the STLin 2011. While the area did not produce any Top 20 players like last year, there were three players who did crack the Top 50 rankings nationally while leading their respective summer teams. The Summer of 2011 was a very good follow-up to what was a spectacular Summer of 2010. More young players in the metro area are continuing to emerge and the college recruiters are still coming around to see what’s happening.

One player who really saw his profile raised was Belleville East junior guard Malcolm Hill, who is currently ranked No. 43 in the Scout.com rankings for the Class of 2013. The 6’5” Hill enjoyed a big summer while playing for the Southwest Illinois Jets 16U team for coach Patrick Smith. Hill averaged more than 20 points a game for the Jets

One player who really saw his profile raised was Belleville East junior guard Malcolm Hill, who is currently ranked No.43 in the Scout.com rankings for the Class of 2013.

while establishing himself as one of the top players in the state of Illinois’very loaded 2013 class. Hill has also seen his recruiting profile increase as well with offers from schools such as Missouri, Illinois, Kansas State and Xavier. He also took unofficial visits to Michigan, Ohio State and several other top programs around the country. The area’s most highly-rated player is 6’7” Cameron Biedscheid of Cardinal Ritter

College Prep. Biedscheid concluded the summer as the No. 31 player in the Class of 2012 by the recruiting website, Rivals.com. Biedschied played for the St. Louis Eagles 17U team that played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League and advanced to the championship game of three summer tournaments. Biedscheid was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the recent Nike Global Games in Hillsboro, Oregon. Biedscheid is headed to Notre Dame. DeSmet’s Nolan Berry joined Malcolm Hill in Scout.com’s Top 50 rankings in the Class of 2013.

Practices, camps and tryouts

With Earl Austin Jr. All eyes on up and coming talent in

Another season of high school football and other fall sports will be getting underway in just a couple of weeks. The upcoming season will be a special one for me because it will begin my 25th year of covering high school sports in the St. Louis metropolitan area. During that time, I’ve seen some great players, great teams and have met many wonderful people along the way. Over the course of the 2011-12 season, I will be sharing my favorite moments of the past 25 years in the St. Louis American on a regular basis. I hope you will enjoy it.

Biedscheid is All-Tourney

Cardinal Ritter College Prep basketball standout Cameron Biedscheid was selected to the AllTournament Team at the recent Nike Global Challenge in Hillsboro, Oregon. The 6’7” Biedscheid was the leading scorer for the USA-East team that finished third in the eight-team international tournament. Biedscheid averaged 15.6 points a game while shooting 52 percent from the field. He scored a game-high 23 points in the USAEast’s victory over Chinese Taipei to open the tournament.

Terrell Ramey events

Local basketball coach and recruiting expert

Local basketball coach and recruiting expert

Terrell Ramey will be putting on two special events this fall, both starting in September.

Terrell Ramey will be putting on two special events this fall, both starting in September. First, the 2011 Rameybasketball.com Fall Basketball League will be held on Saturdays and Sundays at the Wohl Recreation Center (1515 N. Kingshighway). The league will run from September 3 to October 2. The league is for players from the Class of 2012 through 2015. The fee for participation is $65 per player. The first 80 players to sign up and pay will be placed on teams and will play in at least eight games. Terrell will also be putting on the Fifth Annual Battle for the Rankings Fall Showcase event,

Cardinal Ritter College Prep basketball standout Cameron Biedscheid was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the recent Nike Global Challenge in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Earl Austin Jr.

CLAIB’S CALL

By Mike Claiborne

NCAArides herd on conference jumpers

Mike Claiborne

While you may think the politics in Washington is a mess, I understand it. Neither side can agree, as many who have been elected think that the dumbing down of America fits their platform. So good of a fit that they are card-carrying participants of the dumbdown. With that said, there is another outfit that far exceeds the shortcomings of Washington. They call it the NCAA.

The latest chapter: conference raiding has reared its head as Texas A&M has let it be known that they are not happy with rival Texas’bid to pillage the talent and the repu-

tation as the biggest and the baddest in the great state of Texas. Now A&M is willing to take their ball and play elsewhere, or at least we were led to believe that. Officials from Texas A&M let it be known

Missouri was never formally invited to join and was almost left standing without a chair when the conference shuffling stopped.

that they were being courted by the SEC and that Missouri and Clemson were also part of the proposed move. Nice idea, until the SEC said there would be no immediate expansion of the conference. Now everyone will have

to shut up and play the season where they are. It does propose an interesting scenario, though. There are hundreds of millions of dollars in TVmoney out there for college sports. ESPN currently holds many of the cards as they have attempted to lock up many of the big conferences with long-term deals in order to fend off the attempts of Fox Sports, NBC and CBS to get more in the game. Good teams and conferences are at a premium, as well as TVmarkets.

Where does that put schools like Missouri? If you recall, when the Mizzou Big 10 merger was being floated everyone was on board, including Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. He thought it was a great idea, especially with him having a son attending a Big 10 school.

One problem: Missouri was never formally invited to join and was almost left standing without a chair when the conference shuffling stopped. To say they dodged a bullet when the Big 12 allowed them to stay is an understatement. Now the SEC rumors have surfaced. While I am a huge fan of the SEC, I think Mizzou would have their work cut out for them early. They could handle the likes of Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Mississippi Sate. It’s the LSU, Alabama and Florida that could make Saturday a long day. Could Missouri ever win the SEC? Could they get the championship game? Could they play for a national championship? Yes, no and no! I for one would love tosee

the move, as there are some natural rivals such as Arkansas, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. You can not tell me that watching Mizzou play in Columbia against an Alabama or LSU would not move the needle, and it would eliminate the conference doormats like Iowa State and Kansas State.

The NCAAhas no real say in the matter. They just sit there and pick there spots on when to regulate. Then again, the NCAAhas enough on their plates trying to out the cheaters of today. Now that some of the big-name schools are getting caught with the prospect of probation, they are now looking to keep them afloat since there would still be a TVdraw. Nice, really nice. A

new set of rules are coming to protect the big boys again. It’s a mess that can not be fixed over night, as the NCAA is overwhelmed by conference jumping, cheating and who gets paid what. Not much difference from the anarchy that exists in Washington, only different stripes. The NCAAhas to start over. Resignations should be tendered, and new leadership should be installed. Once that takes place, a new manual should be formed to regulate the member institutions. The inmates are truly running the asylum, and there is nothing being done about it – until someone mentions the word “investigation.”

which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Florissant Valley Community College (3400 Pershall Road). The event will feature 160 of the top high school players in the St. Louis metro area. The event is limited to 40 players per class. The cost to participate in the showcase is $40 per player. To register for both events, you can visit the website www.rameybasketball.com.

Surge tryouts

The St. Louis Surge women’s semi-pro basketball team will be holding their tryouts for the 2011-12 season on Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Registration will begin from 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Players must be at least 20 years old to try out. There is a $25 fee per player to participate. Tryouts will be open to the public for $5 on Saturday, Aug. 27, beginning at 4 p.m. The tryouts will be closed on Sunday. They will begin at noon. Players may pre-register at www.stlsurgebasketball.com. Registration will also be open the day of tryouts. The St. Louis Surge are members of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL).

Dynamic Post Player Camp

Former Saint Louis University basketball standout Angela Lewis of Major Game Basketball, LLC will be putting on a Dynamic Post Player camp on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Webster Univesity. In addition to learning low-post play, there will be certified trainers on hand to take the players through an agility and flexibility session. And the end of the camp, there will be a college readiness presentation, which covers the academic requirements and rules of becoming a college athlete. Players can register on-line at www.majorgamebasketball.webs.com.

The University of Texas A&M is considering leaving the Big 12 for the SEC.

St. Louis Team 314 wins MAYB nationals

Congratulations to St.Louis Team 314 on winning the Mid America Youth Basketball (MAYB) NationalChampionship in the boys seventh grade division last week in Wichita,Kansas.Team 314 won all eight of their games by an average victory margin of 20 points.The team members are (back row) Mark Thornhill, Justin Tatum, head coach Christian Willis, Xavier Sneed, Dedric Lawson, Jayson Tatum, Antoine Sneed, assistant coach, and (front row) Warren

and Jordan Barnes.

TRACK

Continued from B3

The 6’8” Berry was ranked No. 46 at the end of the summer. Berry played for the St. Louis Eagles 16U team that won two tournaments during the summer. Berry has offers from Missouri, Butler, Loyola (Ill.) and has taken several unofficial visits to schools

such as Notre Dame, Purdue and Stanford. He also participated in the Nike Elite 100 Basketball Showcase at Saint Louis University in June. Another Class of 2013 player who is emerging into a national force is guard Deshawn Munson of East St. Louis. The 6’3” Munson also played for the Eagles 16U team with Berry. Munson earned several rave reviews with a string of stellar per-

formances at the prestigious Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. in July.

Rockwood Marquette’s 6’9” senior Ryan Rosburg really saw his recruiting interest pick up after an excellent summer of play with the Gateway Basketball Club 16Us. Rosburg has offers from Missouri, Tennessee, Missouri State, TCU, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Utah.

The Baylor Youth

Foundation 17U team made a national splash as they advanced to the championship game of the Amateur Athletic Union Super Showcase Silver Division. Baylor was national runner-ups and got a chance to play on ESPN-3 in the championship game with Division I prospects such as Darrell Johnson (Parkway North), Paul McRoberts (Soldan), Travon Williams (University City) and Demetrius Floyd (McCluer).

Davenport, Derrick Henderson Jr.

Photo courtesy of DTD Photography

BANKS

Continued from B1 steepened deeply between 2005 and 2009.

“Inflation-adjusted median wealth did a nose dive over the four-year period in question,” Adams blogged.“Hispanic households lost two-thirds of their wealth, and African Americans lost 53 percent.”

Unlike many who reported on the study, Adams is in a position to make concrete contributions to addressing the disparities.

“Now, how do we roll-up our sleeves and jump in and provide solutions?” Adams asked.

“We are about creating cash-flow in the household through value in financial services.If you’re a saver, then rates are higher.If you’re a borrower, then rates are lower. If you’re a transactor, then fees/costs are much more palatable.Pick one – it all means more wealth.”

The new credit union branch, in the underbanked majority-black community of Wellston, is its ninth. “Our mission is to provide financial education and economic empowerment to our members –especially the underserved segment of the community,” the credit union states on its

website. The new branch is located in the METcareer-training center – a public/private partnership between St.Louis Community College, St.Louis County government, Better Family Life, East-West Gateway Regional Jobs Initiative and St.Louis Agency for Training and Employment – that serves largely minority clients.

The branch opening was supported and attended by many of the region’s most senior African-American elected officials, including County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, state Senator Maria ChappelleNadal and Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen for the City of St. Louis. Comptroller Darlene Green, Reed’s colleague on the city’s chief fiscal body, the Board of Estimate & Apportionment, is honorary chairperson of the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force. This task force, she wrote in The American last week, “is dedicated to analyzing and implementing best practices to improve banking products and services for the unbanked and underbanked in the St. Louis region.” Green wrote eloquently of the need for minority families to enter the mainstream banking system and build credit and wealth.

“Many throughout our com-

entry into the job market.

80 percent of the city’s detention centers.Clearly, we must make targeted, effective investments now to spur urban job growth and prevent the loss of an entire generation.That is the real potential of the Urban Jobs Act.

The Act would create an Urban Jobs Program that would award competitive grants to national non-profit organizations, in partnership with local affiliates, to prepare youth ages 18 through 24 for

Anational organization that received a grant would provide a comprehensive set of services that includes case management to help participants utilize the services; educational programming, including skills assessment, reading and math remediation, educational enrichment, GED preparation, and post-secondary education; employment and job readiness activities, including mentoring, placement in community service opportunities, internships, occupational skills training and job placement in unsubsidized jobs; and support services, including health and nutrition

munities do not have a saving or checking account. They have no credit history to pay for purchases over time or get a bank loan,” Green wrote.

“Thousands of people are caught in the cycle of having to use payday lenders, title loans and other expensive, high-interest means in order to make ends meet. The task force wants to break this cycle by educating people and introducing them to banking services designed specifically for their needs. Over time, this will allow them to establish a credit history, learn the value of saving and teach them how to become financially astute.”

The task force created the first Financial Opportunities Pavilion at the upcoming Missouri Black Expo, to be held Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21, at America’s Center. St. Louis Community Credit Union will provide financial literacy workshops on Saturday. Other partners include Commerce Bank, Fifth Third Bank, First Bank, Midwest Bank Centre, Montgomery Bank, Regions Bank and Vantage Credit Union.

For more information on the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force, contact stlunbanked@gmail.com. For more information on St. Louis Community Credit Union, visit www.stlouiscommunity.com.

referral, housing assistance, training in interpersonal and basic living skills, transportation, child care and clothing.

The act would increase the capacity of organizations like the Urban League of New York which operates two city employment centers and has helped prepare many young adults for full-time employment.

Our message to Congress is clear:The time for debate and delay is over.Pass the Urban Jobs Bill now.

Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League

Financial Focus

By Andre Nelson, financial advisor

Reinvesting dividends can pay off

Show

me some hate

POTPOURRI WITH DANA GRACE

vacations

The Wilkins family tours Europe, Dr. Thomas and wife enjoy Panama City

By Dana Grace For

The St. Louis American Parlez-vous français? Drs. Consuelo and Kenny Wilkins along with their children Elise and Trey enjoyed an exciting 10-day summer vacation in Europe. Consuelo was invited to present some of her research at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s

Horace L. Williams looks STL in the eye with ‘City of Haterz’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“It was a conversation that kept coming up,” said ilmmaker

Horace L.

Williams. “It’s been a topic of discussion for years, but it had never been explored.”

Through City of Haterz: Analyzing The St. Louis Slave Mentality, Williams sought out the community to help him get to the bottom of what plenty to believe is a constant negative mindset of many St. Louisans.

“First, you have to recognize a problem is there before you can do anything about it,” Williams said.

So he sets out with cameras in tow on the mission to allow people from all walks of life to offer irst-hand experiences with the St. Louis hater syndrome.

It is one that Williams says he knows too well. Born in St. Louis but raised in Mississippi with the experience of living and extensively visiting several metropolitan areas around the nation, he says he has felt the burden of what he believes is a community that holds each other down – and back.

“I grew up in the South, and racism is much more here than it is there,” Williams said. “There, you know that they don’t like you – they will make it clear. But here, it’s different – from the corporate structure, to politics and everything else, there are a whole lot of issues.”

In City of Haterz, community leaders, activists, businessmen and women, entertainment personalities, people from the block and the barbershop all chime in with their perspective on the city’s shortcomings – mainly, the people who live here and the actions

Lisa

By Mama Lisa Gage

For The St. Louis American

Jamaica’s Emancipation

Drs. Consuelo and Kenny Wilkins along with their children Elise and Trey enjoyed an exciting 10-day summer vacation in Paris and other parts of Europe.

Horace L. Williams is the director of the documentary movie City of Haterz: Analyzing The St. Louis Slave Mentality.

Dana Grace

See POTPOURRI, C4

New City School.

Photo by Wiley Price

How to place a calendar listing

1.Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican.com OR

2.Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts

Sat., Aug. 20, 7 p.m. doors, The Heart of a Champion, this live concert will raise money to benefit local students through the Vatterott College Scholarship Fund and will include performances from by Nelly and Monica. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd.

To purchase individual tickets and/or to learn more about package opportunities please visit: www.vatterott.edu/nelly.asp

Sun., Aug. 21, 7 p.m., Hot 104.1 presents SuperJam 5 with the return of the I Am Still Music Tourwith Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, FarEast Movement and Lloyd, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Tickets available at livenation.com, Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the Verizon Wireless box office.

Sat., Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., Superstars of Soul starring El DeBarge, The Isley Brothers, Keith Sweat and After7, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com orcall (314) 534-1111.

Sat., Sept. 17, 8 p.m. Yo Gabba Gabba, The Fox Theatre. For more information, call (314) 534-1111 or visit www.metrotix.com

local gigs

Fri., Aug. 19, 8:30 p.m. (6 p.m. doors), Niecy’s Network Showcase, (Every Friday at the Ambassador), Klymaxx Room, 9800 Halls Ferry. Vendor space available. call 314-337-8087.

Sat., Aug. 20, Greatest Show UnderEarth featuring the stylings of the Black and White Band, Brennan’s 4659 Maryland Place in the Central West End. Space is limited

call to get your tickets 314337-8087 Tickets are just $10.

Aug. 28, A-List Band SummerNights Concert Series featuring Live Music R&B, Motown, and Jazz, Quintessential Dining & Nightlife, 149 N. Main St., St. Charles MO 63301.

special events

Thurs., Aug. 18, 6 p.m., Insight to Incite Magazine presents What’s Your Desire Girl’s Night, Your Pot’s Desire, 7700 Delmar Blvd.

Aug. 18 – Aug. 21, Missouri Black Expo 20th Anniversary, America’s Center. For more information, visit www.missouriblackexpo.com

Fri., Aug. 19, 10 a.m., Fish Fry Fundraiser, Ambassador parking Lot, 9800 Halls Ferry. Orders $25 or more delivered. Call 314-337-8087 Fundraiser is to raise money for legal fund.

Tues., Aug. 23, 7 p.m., The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, the Midwest’s premier a cappella choir, is seeking experienced singers. While auditions are being scheduled for all voice parts, the ChamberChorus is especially seeking basses. Openings are available for the ChamberChorus’s 20112012 Tributes season: Oct 2, Nov 20, Dec 18, Feb 19, Apr 22 and May 27. Holy Communion Episcopal Church in University City. For more information and to schedule an audition, call 636-458-4343 or visit the Saint Louis ChamberChorus website at www.chamberchorus.org

Sat. August 27, 7a.m. - 7p.m., Neighborhood Flea Market, Saint Louis ConnectCare. Proceeds benefit

CALENDAR

Urban Vibe Entertainment presents THE COMEDY EXPLOSION featuring Earthquake,Adele Givens, Nephew Tommy.See COMEDY for details

uninsured/underinsured patients at Saint Louis ConnectCare. Space will be available to residents on the northeast parking lot at Delmar & Belt. Call Judi at (314)8796494 for details.

Sat., Aug. 27, 9 a.m. (8 a.m. registration) HIDDEN TREASURES MINISTRIES presents their1st Annual 5K Walk forthe Homeless, 8944 St. Charles Rock Rd. (directly behind St. John Municipal Center). For more information, visit www.agapefellowshipcenter.com or call 314-497-9145 OR 314-537-0687.

Saturdays through Aug. 27, Ms. Bridget’s 2011-2012 Dance YearRegistration & Open House, 11726 St. Charles Rock Rd., Ste J. For more info, call (314)291-1660 or visit http://www.msbridgets.com/

Sat., Aug. 27, 12 noon, The University City High School Alumni Association invites all University City High School (UCHS) alumni to its annual Family Picnic & Open Grill, Heman Park. The park is located at the corner of Shaftesbury and Midland in University City. For more information, visit www.uchsaa.org, call 314-290-4126 or email picnic@uchsaa.org

Sun., Aug. 28, 5 p.m., Independence Centerpresents Fusion 2011, Soulinfused Americana with a modern Motown twist compliments of Fresh Heir and Brothers Lazaroff Enjoy a Fusion Dinner by SqWires, Harvest, Cravings, Duffs, and The Scottish Arms and cocktails by Purus Vodka,Have the opportunity to score amazing Raffle Prizes including tickets and green room passes to Jimmy Kimmel Live. Independence Center Rooftop. For more information, visit www.independencecenter.org.

Aug. 27, 8 a.m., Mass cleanup of Washington Park Cemetery. This is definitely a community-wide effort and ALLare welcome to come and support. Please bring any tools and/or machinery that you have available. For further questions contact Kevin Bailey at Amge2009@aol.com or (314)355-6253.

Sat., Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. (7 a.m. registration) The Little Sisters of the Poorare hosting their2nd Annual 5K Competitive Run/ 1-Mile Fun Run-Walk, Carondelet Park. All proceeds to benefit the Little Sisters of the Poor residence in north St. Louis city for the care of our needy elderly in the St. Louis metro area. Registration and info at 314-

421-6022 or online at www.getmeregistered.com/littlesistersofthepoor

Mon., Aug. 29, 11:30 a.m. & 6:15 p.m., Regional Arts Commission presents a free information session about Patron Manager, affordable software forsmall to medium sized arts organization, RAC, 6128 Delmar. RSVPto diane@stlrac.org.

Sept. 2 – Sept. 4, Missouri Muzic Fest, Boone County, This first ever Labor Day Weekend hip-hop and R&B music festival is hoping to attract 75,000 visitors to the three day event.

Sat., Sept. 3, 9 a.m., AAA Education is the Key to You Success PrayerBreakfast and Awards Program, All Faith Banquet Hall, 4301 State Street East St. Louis, IL 62205. $500 Scholarships awarded to two 2011 from East St. Louis Senior High,School Dist. #189. Special Awards will be presented to two Outstanding Citizens of East St. Louis, IL. Deadline for nominations August 20, 2011 ( limit 1 page and to East St. Louis Citizens only). For more information, call 314243-3188 or 618-271-2190.

Sun., Sept. 4, 7 p.m. doors (8 p.m.) LaborDay Weekend Old Skool Party 2, at Fucifinos, 9369 Natural Bridge at 170, Hosted by Niecy Davis. Call 314-337-8087 for more information.

Sun., Sept. 4, 8 p.m., The 13 Black Katz present “Ala Blacken,” Kemoll’s at the Metropolitan Square Building (#1 Metropolitan Square).

Sat., Sept. 17, 9 a.m., Mill Creek Annual Picnic, Heman Park.

Sat., Sept. 24, 11 a.m., U City Jazz Festival, Heman Park, For more information, visit www.ucityjazzfestival.com

Sun., September11, 2 - 5 p.m., more than 3,000 people are needed to volunteerfor the 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance. United Way of Greater St. Louis has organized dozens of projects throughout the community for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to pay tribute to those who were lost and those who rose in service. To find out about available projects and sign up, please contact United Way at www.stlremembers.orgor 314539-4296.

Thurs., Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Episcopal City Mission Gala Fundraiser“Moment in Time,” Crowne Plaza Hotel, Clayton, MO. For more information, call (314) 436-3545.

Wednesdays through August, 5 p.m., The Downtown CID is introducing a NEW Downtown-wide Happy Hour, Wednesday Night Out, The Happy Hour will be from 5-7 pm and over 20 participating Downtown bars and restaurants will offer $4 signature cocktails, $3 wines, $2 beers and half-priced appetizers. To see if your favorite restaurant/bar is participating, visitwww.downtownstl.org/we dnesdaynightout.

comedy

Sat., Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m., Urban Vibe Entertainment presents THE COMEDY EXPLOSION featuring Earthquake, Adele Givens, Nephew Tommy, J. Anthony Brown, Tony Rock. The Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Fri., Oct. 28, 8 p.m., Fox Concerts presents Chris Tucker, The Fox Theatre. For more information, call (314) 534-1111 or visit www.metrotix.com.

Fri., Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m., SIGMA(Sistas In God Mirroring Abba) presents Trapped in the System, a powerful book discussion by author and Minister Larita S. Rice.Overland Community Center,9225 Lackland Rd., St. Louis, MO 63114.For more information, call (314) 4522088.

Fri., Aug. 26, 7 p.m. Natural Nights will highlight the community’s overwhelming support of the Millions March forLibya, Not Just a Book Store, 4501 Manchester Ave. (Manchester and Taylor). For more information, call (314) 725-0040.

Wed., Sept. 14, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library Foundation presents Suspense Night 2011, The free event brings together seven suspense authors from across the country. St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. The event is

in partnership with the 2011 Bouchercon Convention which will be held from September 15-18 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel. Bouchercon is an annual national convention of mystery writers and readers (www.bouchercon2011.com).

theatre

Through Aug. 21, Stages St. Louis presents The Secret Garden, the Robert G. Reim Theatre, Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 South Geyer Road in St. Louis, MO. For more information or to purchase tickets call 314-821-2407 or visit www.stagesstlouis.org

Fri., Aug. 26, 8 p.m., Spoonful of Honey Theatre Company presents Pearl Bailey…By Request starring Roz White – Vincent, Missouri History Museum, Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-598-6075, e-mail lrharris@aspoonfulohoney.com or visit www.aspoonfulohoney.com.

Mon., Aug. 29, 7 p.m., Hawthorne Players auditions forHerb Gardner’s Tony Award winning play “I’m Not Rappaport,” Florissant Civic Center Theatre, Parker Road and Waterford Drive 63033. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Parts for five men and two women, including an 80year-old African-American superintendent of an apartment building. For more information visit: www.hawthorneplayers.com or e-mail: hawthorneplayers@att.net

Sept. 1 – Sept. 11, Mustard Seed Theatre’s 5th season opens with Falling, written by Artistic Director Deanna Jent Black Box Theatre at Fontbonne University. For more information, or to make a reservation please visit www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

Sep. 9 – Sept. 25, Gitana Productions presents the original play Inalienable Rights: From Pearl Harbor To 911 Regional Arts Commission in the University City Loop. A panel discussion will follow the matinee performance at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday,September 11, the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

arts

Through Aug. 21, Jacoby Arts Center7th Annual Juried Art Exhibit, Opening

Reception, Friday, July 15, 5 –8 pm, The Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton, Illinois. For more information, visit www.jacobyartscenter.org

Through August 27, Mad Art Gallery proudly presents Past/Passed by Robots, an exhibit by Jeffrey Sass featuring Keith Buchholz, Mad Art Gallery.

Through August 28, PPRC Photography Project: BarnesJewish Hospital Center for Diversity & Cultural Competence, an exhibit at two locations. LOCATION 1: Through Aug. 28 at PPRC

Photography Project Gallery, 427 Social Sciences and Business Building at UMSL, 1 University Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63121.

Through September4, The Gallery at The Regional Arts Commission presents Critical Mass Creative Stimulus 2011 featuring the art of Emily Hemeyer, Sarah Paulsen, Alex Petrowsky & Lyndsey Scott Curated by Sarah Colby, Opening Reception: Friday,August 5: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Gallery Talk Thursday, August 186 p.m. (reception 5:30 p.m.) The Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd.

Sept. 16- Sept. 18, the17th Annual MOSAICS Missouri Festival forthe Arts, more than 110 juried and invited artists from across the state, region and country will exhibit, discuss, and sell artwork. Main Street in St. Charles. For more information on the MOSAICS Missouri Festival for the Arts, call 314-482-5476 or visit www.stcharlesmosaics.org

lectures

Through Aug. 18, Along with the National Black MBA Association-St. Louis Chapterand Marks & Associates, ITEnterprises at the University of MissouriSt. Louis will sponsorthe Entrepreneurial Boot Camp The boot camp is a comprehensive three-part program designed to help participants understand the market for starting a business, determine the type of business that best suits them and how to navigate a path to ensure success. Industry experts will facilitate the workshops. Email stlblackmba@charter.net to RSVPor for more information.

Fri., Aug. 19, 7 p.m., Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney to Speak in St. Louis/Stop The War on Libya,

Busch Student Center (Wool Room), St. Louis University Campus, 20 North Grand, St. Louis, MO.

Through Aug. 26, Application Deadline for University of Missouri-St. Louis Bridge Program FREE Saturday Academy Program. For more information, visit 2011www.umsl.edu/~precollegiate to register. (314) 5165196 or precollegiate@umsl.edu for more info.

Dynamic Marriage Course 8-week Marriage Enrichment Class, This 8 week, interactive, self educating course creates real and lasting change in your marital relationship. September 2011 Classes are forming. Contact 314-265-5124 for more information.

Sat., October8, 10 a.m., the Black Alumni Council of Washington University presents “YourMind on Your Money – YourMoney on YourMind,” Alumni House Living Room, 6510 Wallace Circle.To register, call 314935-5645 or e-mail wubac@wustl.edu

health

Aug. 18, Dining Out With Diabetes, The Saint Louis Diabetes Coalition as part of its Kick Diabetes Program is hosting a dining out educational event to keep diabetes patients up to speed on how to best manage their diabetes when they go out on the town. Sweet Tomatoes 9846 Watson Rd. Call (314) 338-3460 or e-

Hot 104.1 presents Super Jam 5 with the return of the I Am Still Music Tour with Lil Wayne,Rick Ross,Keri Hilson,Far East Movement and Lloyd. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Fourth Wednesday Lecture Series presents Programs Offered At NAMI St. Louis by Joyce A. Johnston, Directorof Programs, Place: Grace Hill Murphy O’Fallon Clinic, 1717 Biddle, St. Louis, MO 63106.Call (314) 9624670.

Sat., Sept. 3, Trinity Mt. Carmel Baptist Church will host a health fairwith free health screenings, 11755 Mehl Avenue, Florissant MO 63033. Giveaways, Safety helmets for kids, raffles and free food. For more information call 314-837-7878.

Tues. Sept. 13, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. – St. Louis Regional Health Commission 10th Anniversary Summit, The Chase Park Plaza HotelKhorassan Room. 12 Noon key note address and lunch. Free registration at http://stlouis-regional-healthcommi.ettend.com or call 314446-6454x1101.

mail stldiabetes@gmail.com

Sat. Aug. 20, 8:30 a.m., St. Louis Free to Breathe 5K Walk benefitting the National Lung Cancer Partnership in Creve Coeur Park - Tremayne Shelter,2143 Creve Coeur Mill Rd. in Maryland Heights, Mo. Registration is $20 -adults & $10 -kids, until Aug. 15. More info at ww.FreeToBreathe.org.

Sat. Aug. 20, 9 a.m. - 9th

Annual 100 Black Men Prostate CancerSurvivors &Awareness Walk, Kiener Plaza, downtown St. Louis. Warmup is 7:30-8:00. For more information, call 314367-7778 or visit http://100blackmenstl.org.

Sat., Aug. 20 – Sun., Aug. 21, The Missouri Black Expo 2011 ‘A20 YearCelebration of Hope! MBE Health Fair featuring Yolanda Adam’s Health Camp, Lifestyle Tour and Giant Blood Vessel, America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101.

Wed., Aug. 24, 1:30 p.m.,

Tues. Sept. 13, 2nd Annual Health Missouri Health Literacy Summit, “Health Literacy Tools forBuilding a Patient-Centered Health Home, Hilton Garden Inn, Columbia, Mo. Keynote speaker is Dr. Howard K. Koh, 14th assistant secretary for Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Registration $150 ($175 after August 15). For more information, go to http://www.healthliteracymissouri.org.

First Thursdays, 10 a.m.Family Support Group by NAMI St. Louis, The Alliance on Mental Illness at the Grace Hill MurphyO’Fallon Health Center, 1717 Biddle St. No registration needed; no cost. For more information, contact Sharon Lyons, 314-962-4670.Meetings are for individuals who have someone in their family with mental illness including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophreni.

Free psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations are confidential at the

Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. Call 314-8393171.

Through Aug. 20, 7 p.m., New Horizon Church presents an Old Fashion Tent Revival, 206 Emerling Drive, St Louis MO. 63121. For more information, call 314.524.1244.

Sun., Aug. 21, 9 a. m., New Northside Missionary Baptist Church Invitation to Worship featuring special guest The Rev. Leah Gunning Francis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Eden Theological Seminary,St. Louis, MO, 8645 Goodfellow Blvd. For more information, call (314) 381-5730.

Aug. 21, 3 p.m., Cornerstone Inst Baptist Church presents “ASeason of Renewal: The Day of Restoration” during its 31st Church Anniversary Celebration; 4700 Washington Blvd. For more information, please call 314-367-8000.

Sun., Aug. 21, 3:30 p.m., 3rd Sunday Celebration: Weapons of Praise, Angelic Temple of Deliverance (Corner of Kingshighway & Washington) 5001 Washington Ave. Visit www.angelictemple.org

Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m., Believers Temple Word Fellowship presents “We Believe” Community Church Picnic, Castle Point Park located at 2465 Baroness Dr. St. Louis MO 63136. For more information, please contact Believers Temple Word Fellowship at 314-388-0801 or visit website at www.btwf.net.

Sat. Aug. 20, dusk, Tower Grove Park Movies in the Park presents Toy Story 3 Whitaker Theater, Pool Pavilion at Tower Grove Park.

Notre Dame Cathedral the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine River the Tuileries Gardens and The Louvre. A highlight for the children, a day at Disneyland Paris! The Wilkins also visited a couple of Paris playgrounds to give the Elise and Trey and opportunity to interact with Parisian children. A side trip to London through the Chunnel on the high-speed Eurostar train led to visits to Westminster Abbey Buckingham Palace, London Bridge, Big Ben and a cruise along the Thames River. Back in France, the Wilkins family traveled to an area outside Paris where they spent quality time touring the beautiful French countryside.

Consuelo and Kenny said they enjoyed their vacation and spent more time sightseeing than on previous visits to ensure the children enjoyed the educational component associated with exposure to different cultures.

The National Medical Association held its 109th Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly at the Walter E. Washington Convention

Center in Washington, DC July 23-31. The assembly presents a rewarding opportunity for the largest group of African-American physicians, academicians, scientists and allied health professionals in the country to share ideas and combat problems related to healthcare within our communities. NMA President Dr. Leonard Weather’s (Shreveport, LA) primary initiatives for 2010-2011 were The Effect of the Environment on Minority Health, The Health of Minority Woman and their Families, The State of Health for African American Physicians and Partnerships With other African American Organizations.

The St. Louis Auxiliary to St. Louis’ chapter of the NMA, the Mound City Medical Forum, was named Auxiliary of the Year at the convention. The chapter was recognized for their outstanding community service projects and ongoing commitment to the St. Louis African Americancommunity. Chapter President Mary Thomas prepared a well-documented scrap book that helped the chapter snag the winning banner. Accepting accolades for the St. Louis chapter were Dr. Nathaniel Murdock (former NMA President) and wife

Sandra Murdock (former National Auxiliary President), Dr. Alphonse Favors and wife Velma Favors, current chapter treasurer. By the way, active members Dr. and Mrs. Earl (Mildred) Shelton are the parents of Director Millicent Shelton who was featured in this space last week!

Some 2,500 miles away nestled between the Pacific Ocean and a tropical rain forest at the impressive Breeze’s Resort, Dr. Jean and wife Mary Thomas were attending the 38th Annual Convention for the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad. The conference focus, “Health Care Delivery in the PostEarthquake Era”. Dr. Jean Thomas Sr. served as one of the conference moderators. The Thomas’ found the conference rewarding, informative and festive. The Thomas’ enjoyed spending time in beautiful Panama City with colleagues and friends.

A cadre of St. Louisans Faulk and Rams fans flocked to Canton last weekend for Marshall Faulk’s induction to the Hall of Fame. I hope you read Mike Claiborne’s great article about his first-hand experience at this once in a lifetime event. Guests enjoyed a bevy of pre-enshrinement activities

including a fashion show Friday morning, rounds of golf Friday afternoon, the annual cloaking dinner Friday night, a grand parade and tour of the Hall of Fame Museum Saturday, a pre-enshrinement buffet and the long awaited enshrinement ceremony Saturday evening. The after party was rockin’ with hometowner Nelly and Snoop Dogg on deck. Native, former and present day St. Louisans seen mingling with Marshall included; Tyrone “Party Tee” and Michelle Wilson, Taylor O’Brien, Charlie Tuna, Proud Mama Cecile Faulk, brothers Joe Hurst, Ebenezer Faulk, Raymond Faulk and Kinzie Faulk Jamie Cox, Katie and Ricky Andrews, Scott Rosenblum with son Reed Rosenblum, former Rams wide receiver Az Hakim, Chuck Jackson Les Bond Jr. Mike Dupre, Tony Schumann, Tracson McLeod, Jennifer Weber, Meghan Noone, Molly Beaver Powell, Jim Wagoner, former Rams Kurt Warner, Dre Bly, Ricky Proehl and Isaac Bruce.

Have an exceptional week! Write to Dana Grace at dgrandolph@live.com.

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heritage had to offer. Complimenting the theme “Let the Drums Speak,” the stage was transformed into a large djembe drumhead which was truly powerful. Several pre-show acts demonstrated the different types of drum techniques used in the evolution of Jamaican music.

Ska, mento and reggae beats resonated out across time and space to make all things old new again.

A pause in the beat allowed time for several young pageant contestants to hone their spokes model skills by greeting and welcoming the audience reverently and graciously. Cute tween and teen girls glided elegantly across the stage to the microphone and pranced confidently back to the wings off-stage.

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they take to prevent the area from making progress.

Plenty of the subjects of Williams’ film actually come across as continuing the stereotype of St. Louis’ legacy of haters – pointing out all of the negative aspects of the city and its citizens and how the city as a whole has had a hand in holding him or her back. Alleged victims of STL hating provide a host of examples of thwarted talent ranging from sewing skills to singing talent.

“A lot of people don’t want to face up to an issue that’s there because it’s their city, but they are real about it,” Williams said. “We’re not saying it’s fact

or just totally fabricated, and we are exploring from all angles –including a historical perspective.”

The film offers compelling commentary from historian John A. Wright and Lynne Jackson, a direct descendent of Dred and Harriet Scott, as they offer historical insight on the racism that has plagued the St. Louis community since the days of slavery. Wright gives viewers a breakdown of blacks in St. Louis from the early 18th Century, and Jackson discusses the significance of her great-greatgreat Grandfather Dred Scott. City of Haterz also breaks down the racism in St. Louis from a political perspective via legendary activists Percy Green II and Norman Seay. While the film explores rac-

ism and haters, it doesn’t create a deep enough connection between the two – or get to the bottom of why St. Louis people have what Williams and the participants in his film believe to be a predisposition to hating.

And the “slave mentality” of Williams’ title is never made completely clear.

What is obvious is that people in St. Louis have serious concerns with each other regarding the lack of camaraderie – which is keeping the area from standing alongside other metropolitan areas as one of the nation’s urban hotspots.

According to Williams, that was the primary point of his production.

“I really want for a light bulb to go off in their head,” Williams said. “I wanted them to see that, ‘Yes, there are some

issues, and am I a contributor to it or am I a part of the solution.’ That is a big part.”

Williams has a parting message for the people of St. Louis.

“This is your city,” Williams said. “If you would like to see your city become a more diverse and progressive city, like other major cities, we must recognize real issues that are involving the city and move towards positive solutions to resolving those issues to reach that goal.”

City of Haterz: Analyzing The St. Louis Slave Mentality can be ordered or downloaded from www.stlcityofhaterz.com. It’s also available at Vintage Vinyl in the U. City Loop and other venues listed on the movie’s website or call 314285-1402.

Then, from the wings, two extremely funny elder masters of ceremonies kept the stage lively between performances. They imparted knowledge of local trivia and history, flavorfully spoken in what a St. Louisan may call “thick” patois. Audience participants were given plentiful opportunities to win gifts donated by sponsors for knowing the answers to questions about pre-Emancipation history.

Those histories burst into color and sound as each national folk performing company called the drums to speak. The drums invoked the spirit of the dancers to perform Bruckins, Dinki Mini, Kumina and the Quadrille. This year’s Emancipation Jubilee also included dancers from the Republic of South Africa, dancing contemporary as well as traditional Zulu choreography and the Gumboot Dance. One of the performers informed the audience that the Gumboot choreography’s encoded messages were communicated quickly to inform the workers of possible trouble brewing like, “The baas is coming.” Africa’s ongoing presence remained strong in the minds

of all Jamaicans. Throughout the evening, many comments alluded to a simple fact that peoples of the Diaspora often do not honor their heritage in the way that Jamaicans do on a daily basis. It was upon the self-determined resilience of its African descendants that Jamaicans forged innovative changes in their existence, since the emancipation of 1838. A ritual of the evening included a salute to 270 slaves whom perished on the plantation site. The audience honored them with 270 seconds of silence in tribute. Four large floral arrangements were placed onto the African tomb, approximately 50 yards from stage right, draped ceremonially with long strips of green, gold, and black cloth, as found in the Jamaican flag. Flags across the festival grounds waved in the marketplace stalls, even in the light sprinkle of rain threatening to dismantle an undeterred audience. Vendors offered Jamaica-wear, local foods and rums, informational pamphlets, books and even Emancipation Jubilee tin mugs. All night long, lines cued for hot chocolate. Hot chocolate in hot weather is used to heat up and then cool down the body on a hot night.

Cooling down may have been only something needed for the audience, because the stage was hot, hot, hot! The Jonkonnu masqueraders jumped like wild fire all over the stage. The motion transformed into a heavy gyration of hips as the partnered dancers began to wind and grind. By midnight, a reenactment of the reading of the emancipation order mesmerized the crowd. Emancipation Day was in full swing until dawn. So in admiration of those who walk to their own beat to make the drums speak, the Jamaican Emancipation Jubilee is definitely an event not to be missed. Since UNESCO has declared 2011 the International Year of People of African Descent, this event made for an outstanding addition to the list of global tributes to the ancestors this year. “Ya mon!”

By Melanie Adams

Chef Jeff comes to MoHist

Celebrity chef dishes on soul food August 26-27

Chef Jeff is America’s new culinary star, and he’s coming to the Missouri History Museum on August 26 and 27. Chef Jeff and his appearance here is indirectly responsible for calling up some of my childhood memories of food.

As I walk in the kitchen after school, my first words to my mother are “What’s for dinner?” Without turning from the pot she is stirring, she says, “Black-eyed peas.” I go into whine mode and say, “There has to be meat for it to be dinner.” She replies, “There is meat. Ham hocks.” My elementary school self replies even whinier, “Ham hocks aren’t meat. I want REAL meat.” Knowing I was not going to win this argument, I look at the sides that she planned to serve with this dinner of peas: collard greens and “real” cornbread. (I say “real” cornbread because my mother did not believe in Jiffy mix. She said Jiffy was cake; cornbread was not meant to be sweet.) Needless to say, I found something else to eat for dinner that evening – and most evenings when black-eyed peas were the main entrée.

Growing up I never really gave much thought to the food my mother prepared every day. I remember my white friend who lived down the street liked to have breakfast at my house. My mother didn’t care, and so she would come over often. I finally asked her why she liked breakfast at my house and she said, “Your mother is the only mother in the neighborhood who makes grits.” The grits were just part of my parents’ Southern culture they had brought north. My father was making sweet tea before it become the new “it” drink. His tea was so sweet it would hurt your teeth. I would have to dilute it with water just to drink it. And the chitlins. My mother and I agreed on that one so Dad had to cook his chitlins outside or in the garage.

As I got older I decided to try my hand at making some soul food. I started off with greens. I went to the farmer’s market, got a bunch, washed them and set them in a pot on the stove. After I thought they were done, I looked in the pot and saw all of this dirt. As most people do in these types of situations, I call my mother and say, “Something was wrong with the greens I bought. The water looks dirty.” My mother asks, “Did you clean them?” “Yes, I cleaned them.” My mother said, “You have to scrub greens. You can’t just run them under the water and call them clean.” So much for my greens.

Thinking maybe I was reaching just a bit, I decided to bake a seven up cake. Of all the things my mother makes, her seven up cake is the family favorite. I have grown cousins who still ask her to make them a seven up cake once a year. I’m happy to report that my cake turned out a lot better than my greens, once I figured out how to properly grease and flour a pan. So now when I have to bring soul food to an event, I go with my tried and true seven up cake. I have ventured into other types of soul food, such as macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole or fried catfish. I just serve them to people who are too polite to be critical. In the end, for most people, their mother’s food will always be the benchmark that is almost impossible to reach.

To help celebrate southern African-American

Chef Jeff is author/editor of the America I AM cookbook. Called Pass It Down Cookbook, it is a compilation of traditional African-American recipes from around the country, including a recipe for Lula Momma’s Chow Chow from Felicia Pearson right here in St. Louis.

food traditions, the Museum will host Chef Jeff, author/editor of the America I AM cookbook. Called Pass It Down Cookbook, it is a compilation of traditional African-American recipes from around the country, including a recipe for Lula Momma’s Chow Chow from Felicia Pearson right here in St. Louis. In addition to his celebrated culinary career, Chef Jeff has an inspiring personal story as he talks about how he went from the prison kitchen to the kitchens of the top restaurants in the country. At the History Museum Chef Jeff, with the help of local soul food restaurant Sweetie Pies, will host a meetand-greet and present a cooking demonstration and a lecture.

Friday, August 26th

Reception with Chef Jeff

Meet and Greet with Chef Jeff catered by Sweetie Pies

$10 (includes 2 free drink tickets per person, then cash bar) 5:00pm

Saturday, August 27th

An Afternoon with Chef Jeff

Cooking demonstration and lecture followed by book signing and food samples

(food provided by Sweetie Pies)

Noon: Cooking Demonstration 1:00pm: Lecture followed by book signing

This Week in Black History

August 18

1963 – The first Black person admitted to the University of Mississippi, James Meredith graduates on this day in 1963. His graduation was unmarred by the protests and violence which marked his federally forced entry into the once segregated institution.

1964 – White-ruled South Africa is officially banned from competing in the Olympics because of its system of racial oppression known as Apartheid. The country’s Black majority would not achieve democratic rule, however, until May 1994 when the Nelson Mandela-led African National Congress won over two-thirds of the vote in the country’s first free elections.

August 19

1791 – Benjamin Banneker writes a letter to Secretary of State (later president) Thomas Jefferson denouncing slavery. In his letter, Banneker declared, “I freely and cheerfully acknowledge that I am of the African race” and then precedes to label America’s recently achieved freedom from England a “hypocrisy” as long as Blacks continued to suffer under “groaning captivity and cruel oppression.”

Banneker was a Black activist against slavery even though he is generally recognized for his mathematical achievements, designing one of the first clocks made in America and laying out the nation’s capital after Pierre L’Enfant abandoned the job.

1954 – African American diplomat Ralph Bunch is named Undersecretary of the United Nations. Bunch had already received the Nobel Peace Prize (1950) for his work as a UN negotiator during the ArabIsraeli war of 1948-1949. Bunch would later become UN Secretary General. He was born in Detroit but raised in Los Angeles.

August 20

1619 – This is the most probable date that Black History in America begins. Approximately 20 Africans (the records of the day referred to them as “20 and odd Negras”) arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard a Dutch ship. It appears the Africans were sold as indentured servants who could work and earn their freedom. Little is known about the group except that the Dutch had stolen them from a Spanish slave ship which was probably headed for the Caribbean or South America. Few names survive. But one of the men was called Anthony (or Antonio) and one of the women was called Isabella. The available records indicate the ship arrived in Jamestown in the latter part of August.

Other records and some speculation have led most historians to believe the actual arrival date was August 20, 1619 - the beginning of Black history in America.

1830 – The first National Negro Convention is held. It takes place in Philadelphia and is chaired by Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Top on the agenda of the gathering was what could free Blacks do to help bring an end to slavery.

1942 – Musician, composer, singer, songwriter Isaac Hayes is born on this day in Covington, Tennessee.

August 21

1831 – The Nat Turner slave rebellion begins in Southampton, Virginia. It was the best organized and most deadly slave revolt in American history. The charismatic Turner brought together between 50 and 70 Blacks (some slave and some free) to launch his revolt prompted by what he saw as a vision from God. As many as 70 whites (men, women and children) were killed during a two-day period. It took the local militia and a detachment of federal troops to put down the rebellion. However, Turner, known as “the Prophet” by his followers was not captured until October 30th. He was hanged on November 11, 1831. Interestingly, he became known as “Turner” after the rebellion. During his life, he was simply known as Nat and was considered a brilliant, self-taught man. After the rebellion, Virginia passed a law making it illegal to teach a Black person how to read and write.

1904 – Jazz pianist and band leader William “Count” Bassie is born on this day in Red Bank, New Jersey.

1936 – Basketball legend Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 7’1” phenomenon had an amazing NBA career including being the only player to score 100 points in a single game. Chamberlain died in October 1999.

August 22

1791 – The Haitian Revolution begins. It was the most successful Black slave revolt in world history. Led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, a trusted house slave who initially opposed the rebellion, the slaves defeated the mighty French army led by Napoleon. They also defeated a contingent of British troops. However, L’Ouverture was tricked into attending a “peace” conference where he was captured and would later die in prison. It fell to one of his lieutenants, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, to complete the struggle and

declare the island nation an independent republic on January 1, 1804.

1843 – A National Convention of Black Men takes place in Buffalo, New York. The militant abolitionist Henry Highland Garnett called for a slave revolt and for free Blacks to launch a nationwide strike in support of the revolt. But a more moderate Frederick Douglas opposed Garnett’s plan out of fear of potential violence.

1989 – Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton is gunned down in California. He was killed by a 24-year-old member of the Black Guerilla drug gang. Newton had founded the militant Black Panther Party along with Bobby Seale in 1966. The group advocated community control, armed self-defense and a mixture of Black nationalism and socialism based on the works of Mao Tse-tung, Che Guevara and Frantz Fanon.

August 23

1826 – This is generally recognized as the day that the first Black person in America graduated from college. His name was Edward Jones and he received his BA degree from Amherst College in Massachusetts. Despite the general recognition, however, there is some evidence that the honor actually belongs to Alexander Lucius Twilight who appears to have graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1823. Nevertheless, Jones would eventually leave America and help establish the African nation of Sierra Leone.

August 24

1854 – Dr. John V. DeGrasse, perhaps the most prominent Black person in New England during the pre-Civil War period, is admitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society. DeGrasse was born in New York City in 1825 and graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine.

1950 – Chicago attorney Edith Spurlock Sampson is named by President Harry S. Truman as the first African American representative in the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. Sampson was also the first Black female elected judge in the United States. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania around 1901 and died in 1979.

[This Week in Black History is compiled by Robert Taylor. Subscribe to his free bi-weekly “Black History Journal.” Include $3.00 to help defray postage costs to Robert N. Taylor, P.O. Box 58097, Washington, D.C. 20037.]

DWAYNE BESS GROUP presents

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Dr. Melissa Suzanne Burroughs-Pena is beginning her cardiology fellowship at Duke University after completing her Internal Medicine Residency with University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Burroughs-Pena is a 2008 graduate of Harvard Medical School. She and her husband, Eslier Pena, now reside in Durham, N.C.

Beaumont High School Class of 1966 will have their 45-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-16, 2011.Friday night - Meet & Greet; Saturday night - Dinner Dance and Sunday morningBrunch.All events will be held at TheSt. Louis Airport Renaissance Hotel.Please contact Josh Beeks 314-3030791 or Evelyn Wright- 314479-7674.

Masters in Theology Min. Antoine D. Hobson graduated with a Master of Arts in Theology from Life Christian University on Saturday August 6, 2011. He will continue pursuing his education in the fall of 2011 working towards his Doctor of Ministry in Theology.

Harris-Stowe State University is calling on the classes of 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011, with the class of 1961 being the “Golden Class,” for its 50-year reunion at the annual Gold Gala in October.If you or anyone you know is a member of any of these graduating classes and would like to participate, please contact the HarrisStowe Office of Alumni Affairs at (314) 340-3390 or alumni@hssu.edu

Northwest Class of 1981 30year reunion; Oct. 7th - 9th, 2011 at the Doubletree Hotel at Westport, 1973 Craigshire, St. Louis, MO 63146. $75 per person, $140 couples. Meet and Greet 6-10 pm, Friday the 7th (at Doubletree); Dinner

Yvonne “Molly” and Jerome “J.R.” Redding celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary on August 6, 2011 with a quiet weekend getaway. They looked back on where they’ve been and appreciate where they are…together. The Reddings look forward to the wonderful years to come and the ways they’ll share them together. Thank you, Lord! Anniversary Six years and looking forward to many more Birthdays!

Dance; 6-12 pm Saturday the 8th (at Doubletree); Church to be announced Sunday the 9th Contact Donna McRae 314369-2748, Karen Neal 314477-5435, Danette Sanders 314-805-7271 & Sharon Watson-Scott 314-484-7067 for more details.

Soldan International Studies High School Class of 2002 is preparing for its 10-year reunion in 2012. We need your contact information to complete our class directory. Please email your information including mailing and email address to soldanclassof2002@yahoo.com. For more information please contact Denise Cobbs at 314-3231228 or email: denisecobbs83@yahoo.com. Please join our Soldan Class of 2002 group on Facebook.

Soldan High School Class of 1961 will celebrate its 50 year Golden Anniversary High School Reunion, September 9, 10, 11, 2011. Events: Fri., Sept. 9—meet and greet; Sat., Sept. 10–Picnic and evening Dinner/Dance and Sunday morning breakfast. The picnic will be held at Irv Zeid Park in Olivette; all other events will be at the Embassy Suites St. Louis-Airport Hotel, 11237 Lone Eagle Dr., St. Louis, MO 63044. Please contact Ronald E. Jackson 314-992-0533 or email Lynn Steele – steelelynn@aol.com

Soldan Class of 1981 is looking for all classmates for the up coming Class Reunion Weekend September 2-4 2011. For details you can find info on Facebook or vontact Johnny

Franklin at (314) 565-2056 orjfstar@sbcglobal.net, Valerie Greene at valgreene901@yahoo.com or Larry Hill at www.LarryHillForSheriff.com. This Reunion is open toall our classmates that went to other schools but were in our Junior class as well.

SumnerHigh School Class of 1981 will celebrate its 30-year reunion Aug. 26-28, 2011. Cost is $81 per person. Send contact info to: Robin Childress-Wiherspoon at Robinspoon927@aol.com or 314-341-6729 or 395-5526.

SumnerHigh School Class of 1987 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 25year reunion. We are in the process of planning. Your contact information is needed ASAP. Please emailyour information to: sumnerco1987@gmail.com

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability.

RELIGION

Study inds churches blind to mental illness

Baylor

University

report shows families crying for help they don’t get

American staff

Mental illness of a family member destroys the family’s connection with the religious community, a new study by Baylor University psychologists has found, leading many affected families to leave the church and their faith behind.

The study shows that while families with a member who has mental illness have less involvement in faith practices, they would like their congregation to provide assistance with those issues. However, the rest of the church community seemed to overlook their need entirely.

In fact, the study found that while help from the church with depression and mental illness was the second priority of families with mental illness, it ranked 42nd on the list of requests from families that did not have a family member with mental illness.

“The difference in response is staggering, especially given the picture of distress painted by the data: families with mental illness reported twice as many problems and tended to ask for assistance with more immediate or crisis needs compared to other families,” said study co-author Dr. Matthew Stanford, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor, who is an expert in mental illness and the church.

“The data give the impression that mental illness, while prevalent within a congregation, is also nearly invisible.”

The study appears on-line

in the journal Mental Health, Religion and Culture, and is the irst study to look at how mental illness of a family member inluences an individual’s relationship with the church.

The Baylor researchers surveyed nearly 6,000 participants in 24 churches representing four Protestant denominations about their family’s stresses, strengths, faith practices and desires for assistance from the congregation. The results showed mental illness in 27 percent of families, with those families reporting double the number of stressors, such as inancial strain and problems balancing work and family. Families with mental illness also scored lower on measures of family strength and faith practices, and analysis of desires for assistance found that help with

mental illness was a priority for those families affected by it, but virtually ignored by others in the congregation.

“Families with mental illness stand to beneit from their involvement within a congregation, but our indings suggest that faith communities fail to adequately engage these families because they lack awareness of the issues and understanding of the important ways that they can help,” said study co-author Dr. Diana Garland, dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work.

“Mental illness is not only prevalent in church communities, but is accompanied by signiicant distress that often goes unnoticed. Partnerships between mental health providers and congregations may help to raise awareness in the church

community and simultaneously offer assistance to struggling families.”

Ministers’Academy graduates ifth class

The Bethesda Temple Ministers’Academy recently observed its ifth graduation. In a ceremony attended by family, friends and the faculty of the Ministers’Academy and Bible Institute, graduates received their Certiicate of Completion. Elder Tommie Harsley III, Pastor of Grace New Covenant Church delivered the baccalaureate address.

In addition to the Ministers’ Academy graduates, Carla Hayes and Patricia Williams received Certiicates of Ministry Development. Louis Becton, Roy McCain, Devona Moore and Samuel Patterson received Certiicates of Completion for Ordination.

The Minister’s Academy is a division of the Bethesda Temple Bible Institute which was established in 1987 by Bishop James A. Johnson, D.D., pastor of Bethesda Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. The Academy is an 18-month certiicate program designed to help the new minister understand more fully what it means to be in ministry and to gain access to basic skills and perspectives that effectively address the challenges of ministry.

The curriculum encompasses classroom instruction, workshops, seminars, internships, and ield ministry. Evangelist Rachel A. Webb, M.Div. is director of the Ministers’Academy. For more information, contact the school at 314-3822606 or email BTBISTL@ yahoo.com.

By Joyce Nash For The St. Louis American

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). – 2ND Corinthians 3:17, Ampliied

When it comes to this scripture, most people refer to God’s manifestation of His presence in a church setting and experience freedom from any bondage that was present in their lives.

It is expedient that such manifestations do occur because it is God’s will for His people to live a full, prosperous life, according to 3rd John 2nd verse: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers” (Ampliied).

is to block us from reading, studying and doing the Word of God. The deception he has launched against Believers in the past few years is for us to think because we come to church and carry out some type of duty or call that we have done the Word of God which is true to a certain extent, but not all. Matthew 7:21 declares, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but He who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.” Ampliied God wants us to do the Word of God in conduct and doctrine. If we believe in what we are reading, teaching and preaching there should be evidence of God’s Spirit controlling

I believe the Lord was revealing unto me that some of us have limited Him to just a church setting and have not allowed Him to come into our homes, businesses, relationships, marriages, etc., and the deepest arena of our hearts like He desires.

To be emancipated means to be free from restraint, control, or the power of another

We can look at the enemy as “the power of another” and the emancipation that God wants us to experience is being free from his wiles (deception), as in Ephesians 6:11. The enemy is a strategist and his biggest agenda

Joyce Nash

illness of a family member destroys the family’s connection with the religious community, a new study by Baylor University psychologists has found.

Nine Hazelwood graduates earn UNCFscholarships

TaylorJones • Ryan Howard,

Tonisha Lewis

Jasmine Roby

Cedric “The Entertainer,”

Samson Webster

*Includes an equal match from SEMO in the first year and additional matches until graduation.

area’s top employers participating. Interested individuals are encouraged to dress professionally and be prepared for a pre-screen interview onsite.

“In the current economic conditions, we’re very proud to offer people in our community a chance to network with some of the best employers in the St. Louis area,” said Tom Bailey, founder of the MBE. “The Missouri Black Expo is not all about fun. We want people to leave empowered and finding a job is empowering.”

Employers are seeking to fill positions in a variety of industries such as health care, customer service, sales, finance and law enforcement.

The following employers are scheduled to attend;

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week Southern rap pioneers 8Ball and MJG had Posh packed out Friday night for a special concert. The Memphis duo brought some of their classics to the stage and debuted new material from their highly anticipated comeback album on T.I.’s Grand Hustle label. Host Big Terrence – one of the hypest men on the mic – kept the crowd live leading up to their performance.

Stand by for Salute. Don’t act brand new! Hopefully y’all have already stocked your fridges with Lean Cuisines so you don’t have to double up on the spanx underneath your evening gowns. I’ve already put in a request to borrow Kim Kardashian’s wedding gown and store bought booty because the hottest formal ticket in town is 30 days (give or take) away. The St. Louis American Salute to Excellence in Education Gala is on its way to America’s Center Friday, Sept. 16th. And while it’s a given we honor the best and brightest of leaders training the children the way they should go from a learning tip – it is an understood that we throw down at the after party. Understand that the elite of the STL show up and rub elbows EVERY YEAR at the Salute. I invited a couple of ordinary people a few years back and they are still talkin’ about the star power that was under one roof. They were pointin’ ingers and askin’ “is that_________(insert VIP)” like they were at the Oscars or somewhere…and rightfully so. Y’all better get your tickets, because it.always.sells.out. Then get on the prowl for a classy ensemble because this is not a recycled prom or Dress Barn type of hype. You can take my word for it and show up, or be reduced to earhustlin’about how poppin’it was (yet again). The choice is yours. Wendy whips her wigs through the Lou. I’m probably one of the 18 people who don’t unabashedly live for the antics of talk show host Wendy Williams’ candid wig and chonk battle chatter. But y’all do, so it was my appointed duty to roll through the mall and see what the fuss was about when she came to town. Now Wendy is cool as all get out, but I just never got into her watered down TV persona. But y’all had the Chesterield Mall lookin’like Northwest Plaza circa 1992 and security was a nervous wreck last Thursday to catch her in the lesh for a mini promo show! Now because I don’t follow her, I had no idea who the wighead Shakeitha was until she came to town. When I irst saw it propped up on the stage I was like “why hasn’t anyone arrested Wendy for decapitating Tami Roman and toting the top portion of her corpse in broad daylight?” But then she explains that wighead Shakeitha is a former hip-hop groupie that Wendy rescued from the beauty supply so that she can see the world and go back and get her education. People were clapping about this, but if wighead Shakeitha is how you promote education…girl, you need a new platform! Anyway her larger than life cleavage was hoisted to the heavens and she looked good considering. But when she did her presto change-o from that “My,My,My” red dress to don beloved leopard print wrap mini, she forgot it was the exact same outit she wore when she came to town last year. What? I couldn’t have been the only one that peeped the repeat! I still was quietly entertained by her subliminal chop to somebody’s space age pimpin’ granny with the purple hair, silver sequined blouse and home glued bedazzled jeans! Keep comin’ back to town Wendy, because the folks obviously just can’t get enough.

8Ball, MJG and the non-magic sound machine. Since I’ve mentioned space -ge pimpin’, I might as well take the time to tell y’all about my voyage to the Eastside to get a sip of my guilty pleasure – pimp-game rap group 8 Ball & MJG. Some of you 42 year-old grandmothers got beside yourselves at the Posh Friday night reminiscing to a time when you were in prime ratchet form. But anyway, I was delighted to stroll down memory lane with OG dirtysouth rap visionaries. As we waited there was complimentary twerkin’by the Hotty Girls. That’s all I have to say about that. The men of the hour emerged and I was screaming like a Belieber on the inside. 8Ball has slimmed down to a manageable 350 lbs and MJG was givin’ me Buju Banton meets Laura Ingalls with his dread plaits. Two things really killed the show for me, even though I still had a blast on the strength of the memories of the good ole “Coming Out Hard” days. The irst is that the sound system was obviously set to “Do Not Disturb.” I promise my portable karaoke machine (don’t judge me ‘till you’ve seen me serve it) has more 808 and less hot static on the mic. The second is this Spongebob Squarepants in shufleboard loafers and some stretch vintage Venture jeans kept obstructing my view. If y’all could have seen shufleboard tryin’to take a picture with this turn of the century lip cell phone, you woulda been agitated for me. Girl, you have .005 megapixels – stop blocking my experience on a bunk mission! But other than that I had a blast.

A twisted feature at The Olive. According to the host himself, soul of a silky persuasion better yet known as Silky Sol, was not able to make her advertised set at Twisted Olive last Friday for Wildmann’s Finally Fridays event. However, Wildmann didn’t disappoint as he held down the fort solodolo with band in tow. And hold it down he did. Although Twisted Olive was slow to gain patrons, he managed to entertain the non-masses as if on a stage in front of millions. In true entertainer form, he carried through instrumentations of “Car Wash,” Fantasia’s “Collard Greens and Cornbread,” Jill Scott’s “The Way,” and her rare feature “Talk to Me.” Decorated in a t-shirt with glittered lettering that bore his name, Wildmann and 4-piece FunkySoul band carried on while rousing the crowd to their feet. But I do have a bone to pick! I was hopin’he would serve me John Legend tease mixed with his own lavor as he usually does but rather teases in the truest form were offered instead. The few notes and ad-libs here and there only made me want to do a few Donkey Kong arm slams on the table. Meanwhile, Katrina Reece came traipsing in with her usual loveliness as she was bejeweled down with mini skirt, jacket, and red pistachio lip.Apparently this wanna-be Basketball Wife broad thought she was being upstaged when she started swinging her hips extra hard. I suppose after a girl’s stays up all night and puts in her 16 inch Kanekalon piece in, she feels free to Naomi Campbell walk all over the linoleum loor. Anyway, check out Wildmann’s Finally Friday’s at Twisted Olive every Friday night. Hip-hop party over Italy. Bar Italia didn’t know what hit them when Fyre Boy Records came through in full party mode in celebration of singer Britney J’s departure to college. There were tall T’s, high top crew cut socks, and snake skin cat suits a-plenty as local rappers/singers/producers gathered to join hands in hip-hop harmony for the occasion. I myself was almost moved to sing “Kumbaya” in B-lat as Brittany J crooned us with a selection “Killa” as the crowd collectively swayed to the beat. Shout out to Willie “Bay D” Pratt and company for putting on such a shindig and showing love to us media folk!

Latrcie Turner stops through EXO’s new Friday open mic night

Calvin Nelson and Topher Jones @ RSVD’s Grand Opening Friday night

Eugene and Alexis Friday @ EXO’s open mic

Chimere,Tanesha,Ashanti,Arielle,Latasha and Tadonya getting a sip of summer sun Sunday @ The Day party @ Araka

Sharis and comedian Javon Bibbs stop through the open mic Friday night @ EXO

LA and Scotti bring additional style to the J. Marie Fashion Show Friday night @ City Romero, Kim, Brooklyn and Walt RSVD Boutique celebrated their grand opening Friday at their new store in the Delmar Loop

Jennifer and Sarah @ the Day party Sunday @ Araka

Radio host Selena J and Vanessa peep the threads @ J. Marie Fashion show Friday night @ City

Joni Marie, Shay, Michelle and Cherie backstage just before the J.Marie Fashion show Friday night @ City

Kristen Richardson and Tamika Williams at The City for the J. Marie Fashion show Friday night

Andrea, Birthday girl Brittany and Joy hanging out Friday night @ Lola

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

Vaccines prevent serious childhood illnesses

By Consuelo H.Wilkins,MD

It’s back to school time, which means physical examinations and immunizations for many school-aged children. Of course, most children dread the idea of getting vaccinated so I’m sure that doesn’t make them excited about going back to school.

In the past decade, the children aren’t the only ones protesting vaccinations. Although the scientific data has been limited, several small and highly controversial studies have linked vaccines to autism.

The autism spectrum disorders are a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders vary significantly in character and severity among individuals. Approximately 1 out of every 150 children has and it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Boys are up to four times more likely to have an autism spectrum disorder than girls.

Despite the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the

World Health Organization, the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics all agree that there is no evidence to support a relationship between autism and vaccines, some people strongly believe that there is a link.

Actress Jenny McCarthy, whose son has autism, has stated that she believes that a vaccination caused her son’s autism. She is not alone in this belief.

Because there is no known cause of autism and the scientific data is often difficult to understand, parents and families are left searching for answers. Without concrete answers, there is a desire to blame something and vaccines are easy targets.

Consuelo H. Wilkins,M.D., Medical Accuracy Editor

There are two issues related to vaccines and autism. In 1998, a British physician and research published a report linking 12 children with autism to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In the report, all 12 children were reported to have developed autistic

symptoms as well as digestive symptoms shortly after their first dose of the MMR vaccine. The researchers suggested that the vaccine might trigger the development of autism.

Since this study was published, at least 14 studies, which include millions of children, have consistently found no difference in autism rates between children who received the MMR vaccine and those who didn’t. Additionally, it was found that the primary author of the initial report was receiving large amounts of money from people who would sue the makers of the vaccine and that the researcher likely falsified the records to show a link between the vaccine and autism.

In February 2010, Lancet, the prominent medical journal that published the first report, issued a retraction citing ethical issues.

The second issue involves vaccines containing the chemical preservative thimerosal, which contains a form of mercury. Mercury poisoning can cause brain damage and some of the symptoms are similar to those in autism. Still there is no proof that vaccines containing thimerosal have caused autism.

In 1998, there were a number of dif-

ferent vaccines that included thimerosal so there was concern that some children could receive doses of mercury that exceeded the limit considered safe. In 1999, the U.S. Public Health Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that vaccine manufacturers either reduce or remove thimerosal from vaccines. Since 2001, all routine childhood vaccines have been available thimerosal-free.

Even though there is no conclusive evidence to support a link between vaccines and autism, some parents remain concerned about this possibility.

Because autism is often diagnosed in early childhood, the time of the diagnosis around the time that many children are receiving vaccinations. Of course, this does not mean that they are related.

Currently, the benefits of childhood vaccines outweigh the risks. We know that vaccinations can prevent serious and life-threatening illnesses including polio, measles, and hepatitis; while there is no consistent scientific data to support a causal relationship between vaccines and autism.

To learn more about vaccines and autism, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Autism/Index.html

Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D., is medical accuracy editor of The St. Louis American and associate professor of medicine and psychiatry, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, at Washington University – St. Louis

YourHealth Matters

Abi-monthly special supplement of the St. Louis American August 18, 2011

YourHealth Matters provides up-to-date information, from an African-American perspective, about one of the most important subjects in evryone’s life – their personal health.

Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher

Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO

Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President

Chris King, Editorial Director

Consuelo Wilkins, MD, Medical Accuracy Editor

Sandra Jordan, Health Reporter

Debbie Chase, Director of Health Strategy & Outreach

Sonia Dulaney, Onye Ijei, Barb Sills, Sales

Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager

Angelita Jackson, Cover Design

Wiley Price, Photojournalist

THE

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

In vitro fertilization offers hope to childless couples

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St.Louis American

“My family is very, very highly fertile, so, for me not to have a child is just – I just didn’t understand why this was happening to me,” said Lisa Smith of St. Louis. “We have been trying to conceive, my husband Curtis and I, for about six to eight years now, until we really found out what was going on.”

Infertility – the inability to bear a child – can be an emotional rollercoaster for couples who want to have offspring of their own. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says the longterm inability to conceive can cause significant feelings of loss for most couples.

“We basically tried to wait for a while and get everything in order – the careers started, the homes, a plan of action for how we wanted our lives to end up, and the only thing that was missing for us was a child,” Smith said.

Infertility is the term used by doctors when a woman has been unable to get pregnant after trying for at least one year, or has repeated miscarriages.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih. gov/medlineplus

When you want to have a baby and you can’t, it seems as though family and friends are “super-fertile” – making otherwise joyous times of anticipation into occasions to internalize feelings of sadness, isolation and resentment.

“Anger for me –when another family member of mine would conceive a child without even trying – it would make me sad to just hear about that,” Smith said.

Visits home in Indiana and facing comments from unsuspecting friends and relatives just compounded the situation.

“When I would go back home, they would always ask, ‘Why don’t you have any kids? And it was just hurtful,” Smith said. “But finding out why, and our chances for conception now, Fertility Partnership has basically given us back that hope.

Doctors say female infertility can be caused by health issues, physical factors, hormone problems, lifestyle factors or environmental factors. The National Office on Women’s Health says twothirds of the time, factors causing infertility are either from the male or female;

and a third of the time the cause of the problem is unknown.

Dr. Elan Simckes, a fertility specialist at Fertility Partnership in St. Peters, said a higher incidence of tubal disease and fibroid tumors are the two main culprits for infertility in African American women. Smith starting going to his fertility clinic after having fibroids removed.

Smith will have embryos implanted this week after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in January. IVF involves introducing the woman’s eggs to her husband’s sperm in the laboratory; then returning the embryos into her body to grow and develop.

“You go through the whole whelm of emotions as far as the IVF cycle is con-

cerned – all the medications that you’re on – the guilt of, ‘did I really wait too long to try to see what was going on for why we weren’t conceiving?’” Smith said.

Smith, like most women who are preparing for IVF, had to take fertility

Photo by Wiley Price

Lisa Smith of St.Louis visits with Dr.Elan Simckes,a fertility specialist in St.Peters,Mo.

HEALTH BRIEFS

Majority of U.S. hospitals do not fully support breastfeeding

Breastfeeding protects against childhood obesity, yet less than 4 percent of U.S. hospitals provide the full range of support mothers need to be able to breastfeed, according to a report released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says improving rates of breastfeeding by providing better hospital support to mothers and babies is an important strategy to improve children’s health, including a reduced risk of childhood obesity.

“Hospitals play a vital role in supporting a mother to be able to breastfeed. Those first few hours and days that a mom and her baby spend learning to breastfeed are critical,”said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.“Hospitals need to better support breastfeeding, as this is one of the most important things a mother can do for her newborn. Breastfeeding helps babies grow up healthy and reduces health care costs.”

The report examined data from CDC’s national survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care.It finds that only 14 percent of hospitals have a written, model breastfeeding policy and that in nearly 80 percent of hospitals, healthy breastfeeding infants are given formula when it is not medically necessary, a practice that makes it much harder

for mothers and babies to learn how to breastfeed and continue breastfeeding at home.

Additionally, only one-third of hospitals practice rooming in for mom and baby, and in nearly 75 percent of hospitals, mothers and babies do not get the support they need when they leave the hospital, including a follow-up visit, a phone call from hospital staff and referrals to lactation consultants, WIC and other important support systems in their community.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding.

Text4baby sends health messages to expectant moms

Text4baby is a free mobile health service for pregnant women and new moms. By simply texting “BABY” (or “BEBE” for information in Spanish) to 511411, women can register to receive weekly text messages, timed to their individual due dates or their baby’s birth date throughout their pregnancy and baby’s first year. The tips and messages, which have been developed in collaboration with government and nonprofit health experts, deal with nutrition, immunization and birth defect prevention, among other topics.

For more information, visit www.text4baby.org.

Indooraircleaners ease asthma symptoms in children of smokers

AJohns Hopkins Children’s Center study of Baltimore children who have asthma and live with smokers concludes that indoor air cleaners can greatly reduce household air pollution and lower the rates of daytime asthma symptoms to those achieved with certain anti-inflammatory asthma drugs.

“Air cleaners appear to be a an excellent partial solution to improving air quality in homes of children living with a smoker but should not be viewed as a substitute for a smoke-free environment,” says lead investigator Arlene Butz, an asthma specialist at Johns Hopkins Children’s and professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Although the air cleaners improved the overall air quality in homes, they did not reduce air nicotine levels and did not counter all ill effects of second-hand smoke, the researchers warn.

The study also found that children living in homes with air cleaners had considerably more days without coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing compared with children living in homes without air cleaners.

Researchers estimate that a child with asthma living in a home with indoor air filtration would, on average, have 33 more symptom-free days per year compared with a child living in a smoking household without indoor filtration.

Researchers conclude that parents should be counseled to implement a total ban on indoor smoking and use air cleaners only as a temporary tool on the way to achieving a smoke-free household. The story appears in the Aug. 1 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Parenting styled to personality eases kid’s anxiety, depression

Astudy by University of Washington psychologists provides advice about tailoring parenting to children’s personalities. At the end of the three-year study, the psychologists found that the right match between parenting styles and the child’s personality led to half as many depression and anxiety symptoms in school-aged children.

“This study moves away from the one-size-fits-all approach to parenting, and gives specific advice to parents on how to mitigate their child’s anxiety and depression,” said Cara Kiff, lead author and psychology resident at the UWSchool of Medicine. “We’re considering characteristics that make children vulnerable to anxiety and depression, and factoring in how that shapes how kids react to different parenting approaches.”

But mismatches led to twice as many depression and anxiety symptoms during the same three years.

The study was published online Aug. 1 in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

Preparing for Pregnancy

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention says these actions may increase your chance of achieving a pregnancy, having a healthy pregnancy, and avoid complications that could affect your health and the outcome of your pregnancy.

• Taking 400 mcg of folic acid daily, in the form of a vitamin supplement or enriched foods.

• Stop smoking cigarettes.

• Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption.

• Reduce or eliminate caffeine intake.

• Regular exercise.

• Control chronic health conditions under medical supervision (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, reproductive tract infections, dental disease, anxiety, lupus, arthritis, epilepsy.)

• Develop healthy eating habits that can continue into pregnancy and beyond. Consider smaller portions of high quality foods providing sound nutritional value.

• Make sure immunization records are up-to-date for vaccines to protect against diseases such as rubella, tetanus, influenza, and whooping cough.

• Take advantage of wellness programs at work or in the community.

IN VITRO

Continued from page 3

drugs to stimulate greater egg production.

“The injections are crazy. You basically have to wake up in the morning and take all this list of medications and inject yourself with a couple of different medicines,” Smith said. “It is nerve-wracking at first. You just put on that face and keep-it moving, because in the end, it will all be worth it.”

When undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), Simckes said timing must align with natural events of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

“We try to match the embryo’s development with the development of the lining of the uterus,” Simckes explained.

Normally, when a woman, has her menstrual period, she sheds her uterine lining and starts to grow a new one. That lining matures until in the middle of the cycle, when the woman ovulates.

“And then the lining changes again, but it starts to get prepared for that embryo,” Simckes said. “That’s a five to seven-day process, to get ready for that embryo to be able to implant.”

The eggs are mature over the course of 10 to 14 days before they are retrieved.

“We harvest them, and then three or five days later, we put them back in,” Simckes said. “If a woman is 38 and younger, we would be hard-pressed to put in more than two. If she is young – under age 35, we would entertain the possibility of putting in only one. Anyone over 38 and certainly over 40, we would potentially put in more than two – we might.”

Simckes said African American women delay seek fertility treatment for a number of factors.

“My main reason for not seeking help early on was denial,” Smith said.

Cost is a major factor. Fertility treatments and procedures can run up a several thousand dollar tab, if it is not covered by insurance.

“You spend all that money and essentially, you are buying a dart to throw at a balloon. There’s no guarantee, and I think that’s very scary for anybody,” Simckes said.

If all goes well, the Smiths would like to have three children.

“But not at the same time,” she said.

For more information, visit fertilitypartnership.com or womenshealth.gov.

Tips to help protect yourbaby’s heart during pregnancy Your Health Questions Matter

Areaderwants to know:

Aside from heredity, can (mom and dad) parents’actions priorto conceiving affect theirbaby’s heart health? What about when a woman is pregnant?

Here are a few thoughts from Dr. F. Sessions Cole, Chief Medical Officer and director of Newborn Medicine at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

• Optimize maternal weight before conception and avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy (Mom’s weight gain can affect the fetus’s/baby’s heart function). *Note- fetus refers to the unborn child that has been developing for at least eight weeks after conception.

• Avoid smoking during pregnancy –

smoking stunts the fetus’s growth in the womb during pregnancy and increases risk of giving birth prematurely. Babies who are born underweight either due to prematurity or stunted growth are at increased risk in adulthood for heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure.

• Husbands/partners should stop smoking to avoid exposing the fetus to second-hand smoke which can also predispose to premature birth and stunted growth in the womb.

• Moms should avoid alcohol during pregnancy to reduce effects of drinking on fetal and neonatal heart function.

• Moms and dads should avoid all recreational drugs, because they can affect fetal and neonatal heart function.

• Moms should see their doctors and be sure that any prescription medicines they need to take are reviewed and are good for the heart of the fetus and baby.

• Moms who have diabetes or who develop diabetes during pregnancy should work closely with their doctors to regulate their blood sugars closely –unregulated blood sugars are not good for the fetus’s and baby’s heart.

Do you have a health-related question? Let us hear from you. Email your question to yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com.

Ahealth professional will provide an answer that we will share with all readers in a future issue of Your Health Matters.

St. John’s Mercy Medical Center becomes Mercy Medical CenterSt. Louis Sept. 1

Beginning Thursday, September 1, Sisters of Mercy Health System’s 100 communities in seven states should share one name: Mercy. St. John’s Mercy Medical Center becomes Mercy Hospital St. Louis and St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Washington will be Mercy Hospital Washington. The local facilities will be the first within the Sisters of Mercy Health System to transition into the new identity.

“We owe it to the three million

patients we serve each year to know us by one name,” said Lynn Britton, president and CEO of Mercy. “Adoptingthe Mercy name is not so much a change as a natural evolution. Our electronic health record has allowed our physicians and medical teams to coordinate care across facilities, communities and even states in ways that were never before possible. It has opened up a whole new world of more convenient and personalized care for our patients.”

Affordable care act to deliver no-cost preventive care forwomen

One year from now in August 2012, co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance payments will no longer be a part of new insurance plans for women’s wellness visits and services, including birth control. On August 1, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says it is accepting the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) recommendations of no-cost women’s health procedures.

The new guidelines require new health insurance plans to cover women’s preventive services such as well-woman visits, breast feeding counseling and support; birth control; gestational diabetes screening; domestic violence screening, HPVtesting for women age 30 and older; STD & HIVcounseling. The IOM was charged with finding gaps in coverage for women and making those recommendations.

“The Affordable Care Act helps stop health problems before they start,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need.”

Before health reform, HHS says too many Americans didn’t get the preven-

tive health care they need to stay healthy, avoid or delay the onset of disease, lead productive lives, and reduce health care costs.Often because of cost, Americans used preventive services at about half the recommended rate.

Last summer, HHS released new insurance market rules under the Affordable Care Act requiring all new private health plans to cover several evidence-based preventive services like mammograms, colonoscopies, blood pressure checks, and childhood immunizations without charging a copayment, deductible or coinsurance.

The Affordable Care Act also made recommended preventive services free for people on Medicare.

The administration also released an amendment to the prevention regulation that allows religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraception services. This regulation is modeled on the most common accommodation for churches available in the majority of the 28 states.

For more information, go to www.healthcare.gov.

Over the next year, Mercy facilities across seven states will transition to one Mercy name, including St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo.; St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, Ark.; and St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center in Hot Springs, Ark.; and clinics such as Garrett Goss Clinic in Bentonville, Ark.

For patients, different names have long been confusing.

“The Mercy name is a tribute to the Sisters of Mercy who founded our ministry and led us to where we are today,” said Mike McCurry, president of St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, soon-to-be Mercy Hospital St. Louis. “By adopting the one name that has always bound us in spirit, we will make it easier for the people we serve to recognize we are one Mercy.”

Sat. Aug. 20, 9 a.m. - 9th Annual 100 Black Men Prostate CancerSurvivors &Awareness Walk, Kiener Plaza, downtown St. Louis. Warmup is 7:30-8:00. For more information, call 314-367-7778 or visit http://100blackmenstl.org.

Sat. Aug. 20, 8:30 a.m. - St. Louis Free to Breathe 5K Walk benefitting the National Lung Cancer Partnership in Creve Coeur Park – Tremayne Shelter, 2143 Creve Coeur Mill Rd. in Maryland Heights, Mo. Registration is $20 – adults & $10 –kids, until Aug. 15. For more information, go to www.FreeToBreathe.org

Wed. Aug. 24, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Programs Offered at NAMI St. Louis, describes what is available free of charge to persons with a mental health diagnosis and their family members; at Grace Hill Murphy O’Fallon Clinic, 1717 Biddle, St. Louis, MO 63106. To RSVP, call 314-962-4670.

Sat. Aug. 27, “Exercise is Not an Option” – a Kick Diabetes Program of

CALENDAR

the Saint Louis Diabetes Coalition; Richmond Heights Community Center, 8001 Dave. Ave. in Richmond Heights, Mo. To register, call 314-338-3460 or email stldiabetes@gmail.com.

Thurs., Sept. 8, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross Blood Drive at Christian Hospital Detrick Building Atrium. For an appointment, contact Sandy Barnesat 314-653-5719 or slm9123@bjc.org or visit the American Red Cross website www.redcrossblood.organd use the sponsor code: christianhospital.

Tues. Sept. 13, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. – St. Louis Regional Health Commission 10th Anniversary Summit, The Chase Park Plaza Hotel -Khorassan Room. 12 Noon key note address and lunch. Free registration at http://st-louis-regionalhealth-commi.ettend.com or call 314446-6454x1101.

Tues. Sept. 13, 2nd Annual Health Missouri Health Literacy Summit, “Health Literacy Tools forBuilding a

Patient-Centered Health Home, Hilton Garden Inn, Columbia, Mo. Keynote speaker is Dr. Howard K. Koh, 14th assistant secretary for Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Registration $150 ($175 after August 15). For more information, go to http://www.healthliteracymissouri.org.

Sat. Sept. 17, 8 a.m. NCCS 5K Charity Run forthe National Children’s CancerSociety, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Pre-registration is $20 and race day is $25. Race begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call 314446-5222 or email jmeurer@theNCCS.org or register online at www.theNCCS.org/5Kcharity run.

Thurs. Sept. 22, 6 p.m., Saint Louis University School of Public Health Annual Scholarship Dinnerand Awards Ceremony, Busch Student Center. Tickets are $75 per person. Featured speaker is Michael Fraser, Ph.D., C.A.E., CEO of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. For more information, call Grace Findley at 314-977-8302 or email ghutchi3@slu.edu.

Saturdays, until Sept. 24, 1-3 p.m., Free pediatric health clinic that is student-run by the Human Resource Center. Free school physicals, immunizations, and other health screens by SLU and Cardinal Glennon physicians. The clinic is located at 1371 Hamilton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63112. For inquiries, call 314-389-0008.

Sat. Oct. 1, 8:30 a.m. - Sista Strut 2nd Annual 3K Breast CancerWalk at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Individual pre-registration is $15. For more information, go to www.kmjm.com.

Sat. Oct. 1, 3 p.m. - Walk forLupus Now, by the Lupus Foundation of America, Heartland Chapter in Carondelet Park in St. Louis. The walk begins at 4:00 pm, rain or shine. To register, visit www.LFAHeartland.org

Sun. Oct. 9, 9 a.m. – Central West End 5K Run to the End – Just forthe Health of It. Event starts at the corner of Maryland and Euclid avenues in St. Louis. Cost is $25 per person by Sept. 30 and $30 the week of the race. For more information, call 314-361-9400 or visit http:www.healthliteracymissouri.org.

Fri. Oct. 14, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Saint

Louis ConnectCare Cocktail Party, annual fundraising event for St. Louis ConnectCare, at Highland Golf and Tennis Center in Forest Park. Event includes entertainment, heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar; silent and live auction. Ticket prices are $100 –Regular; $125-Friends; and $150 –V.I.P. For more information, contact Rosetta Keeton at 314-879-6231 or rxk2630@stlconnectcare.org.

Sat. Oct. 15, 8th Annual CCDC Health Fair by Calvary Community Development Corporation, 2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in St. Louis. For more information, go to www.calvarycdc.org.

Sat. Oct. 29, 9 a.m. – Making Strides Against Breast CancerRun/Walk in Forest Park /Upper Muny Parking Lot–St. Louis. For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at http://tinyurl.com/ACSmakingstrides.

Sundays, 10 a.m., Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109 meets in the 11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road at I270/Hwy. 367. This is an open meeting for alcoholics, drug addicts and their family and friends.

Mondays, 7 p.m., “Tobacco Free for Life” support group – free weekly meetings at St. Peters Mo. City Hall. Supported by SSM Cancer Care; RSVP initial participation to 636-947-5304.

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Help fora drug-free life - chemical dependency information meeting. Call 314-839-3171.

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., STEPS Schizophrenia Support Group This nationally recognized program provides education and support for those with schizophrenia. Group is facilitated by an experienced STEPS nurse. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

First Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Family Support Group by NAMI St. Louis, The Alliance on Mental Illness at the Grace Hill Murphy-O’Fallon Health Center, 1717 Biddle St. No registration needed; no cost. For more information, contact Allen Daniel, 314-814-8579.

Free psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations are confidential at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. Call 314-839-3171.

Forkid-friendly lunches, think inside the box

If you’re looking for a great way to stimulate your child’s creativity and encourage him or her to try new, healthy foods at lunchtime, nutritionists at St. Louis Children’s Hospital say consider buying or making a Bento box.

Bento boxes are designed to hold small portions of a variety of foods, often arranged in whimsical designs or patterns. The small-sized compartments make them kid-friendly and easy to remove and clean.

“Making a Bento box lunch is a great

way to involve your child in meal preparation, which increases the likelihood that he or she will try a new food,” says Marsha Flowers, MHS, RD, LD, clinical nutrition manager at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “The boxes are an easy way to ensure kids eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains, especially if they’re arranged in creative patterns or formed into shapes, such as star-shaped sandwiches, which can be made using cookie cutters.”

Bento boxes can be ordered online or

found at many stores or markets.

To make your own Bento box out of a regular plastic container, use baby carrots, celery or other vegetables as dividers to form compartments.

“Putting together a healthy Bento box lunch that looks unique is simple, and kids like simplicity,” says Aaron Dudzik, executive chef at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Presentation is also important to kids, so colorful foods, such as cherry tomatoes or diced red bell peppers, are a staple of Bento box lunches.”

Dudzik said a typical Bento box lunch could include:

• celery sticks

• fruit sushi (crust-less bread or tortillas rolled up with low-fat cream cheese and banana or pineapple)

• grapes

• protein sources like turkey, chicken or cheese

• strawberries

• whole-wheat crackers or pasta

Source: St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Bento boxes are just the right size to make healthy and nutritious lunches for kids to eat at school.

PROFILING PEOPLE IN HEALTH

Helping bring clients hope and self-discovery

Position/Where:

Licensed Professional Counselor in Transitional Care at SSM St. Mary’s Health Center in St. Louis

CareerHighlights:

30 years as a practicing therapist. Smith began working with behaviorally-disordered children who had been removed from their regular schools. Later she worked with substance abuse clients. Currently Smith works with patients with mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Smith also assisted in revamping and improving curriculum with other program leaders at SSM health centers.

Awards:

2011 Excellence in Health Care Awardee

Education:

• Washington University St. Louis – Masters degree in psychology

• Harris Stowe State University – elementary education degree and psychology minor

Personal:

Usher, Women’s and Youth ministries of Washington Metropolitan AME Zion Church.

St. Louis Connection:

Smith is from a family of educators, including her mother and three sisterswho taught in St. Louis Public Schools.

Yourjourney to success:

My first interest was wondering why people act the way they do,” Smith said. “So I wanted to study the behavior of people.” Of her work, Smith said, “Mainly I help to bring clients some hope and some self-discovery. I help increase their selfesteem and teach them to make goals for themselves.” Peers say Smith strives to make therapy groups fresh, interesting and creative while discussing symptoms, medication management, coping skills and relapse prevention. SSM leadership selected Smith to join a task force to redesign the curriculum. As a result of her efforts, the entire department has multiple resources to deliver quality and innovative sessions for their clients.

Darlene Smith

Darlene Smith

Photo by Wiley Price

Breast Cancer

Gateway to Hope offers no-charge medical and reconstructive treatment for uninsured breast cancer patients in Missouri. Contact 314-569-1113.

Behavioral

Christian Hospital offers free and confidential psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. The hospital has a geriatric psychiatric unit dedicated to serving the mental health needs of geriatric patients. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

Christian Hospital Key Program is for patients with chronic mental illness. The program offers support and education to prevent increased severity of symptoms and to reduce the need for inpatient re-hospitalization. Call confidentially to 314-839-3171 or 1-800-4474301.

Crime Victim Advocacy Center provides no cost support for persons who have been affected by criminal acts. Emil peggy@supportvictims.org, visit or call

HEALTH RESOURCES

the 24-hour hotline 314-OK-BE-MAD (652-3673) or visit www.supportvictims.org.

Diabetes

SSM St. Mary’s Health Center provides free, open-to-the-public Diabetes Support Group sessions the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m., overseen by certified diabetes educators to address health management issues. It’s located at Meeting Room 1 on the second floor, 6420 Clayton Rd. in St. Louis. To register, call toll free 866-SSM-DOCS (866-776-3627).

Free, diabetes education program held at various locations by the Diabetes Network of St. Louis. Participants will be offered testing and support for diabetes control. Six sessions will cover monitoring your blood sugar, controlling complications of diabetes, taking care of your feet, living a healthy life through diet and exercise, and personal goal setting. Call Coco Bopp 314-747-9533 for more information.

Dental

Free Dental Hygiene Clinic - No charge dental exams, x-rays, cleanings and other dental services for children and adults provided by dental students at Missouri College. Patients needing more extensive dental work (like fillings, crowns, etc.) will be referred to local dentists. For an appointment, call 314-768-7899.

Fitness

Coed Jazzercise - $1 per session on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center, 1350 S. Lafayette in Florissant, Mo. (behind Yacovelli’s). For more information, call 314-921-6825.

Information

Missouri 2-1-1 offers referral and information on a wide range of social service and helpful resources. Call 2-11.

Medical

St. Louis ConnectCare offers walk-in services Monday through Friday, 8

a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and most holidays. For more information, call 314-879-6300.

Salam Free Saturday Clinic, 10 a.m. –2 p.m. at the Isom Community Center at Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 916 N. Newstead, St. Louis, Mo. for those who are uninsured. For more information, call 314-533-0534.

Nutrition

Food Outreach provides food, meals and nutritional education/ counseling to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS or cancer in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www.foodoutreach.org.

Prostate Cancer

The Cancer Center of The Empowerment Network, located on the lower level at 6000 W. Florissant in St. Louis, provides information on prostate and other types of cancer, and services and support. Also available are free mammogram and PSA testing certificates, for use at any Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Center. For more information, call 314-385-0998.