August 25th, 2016 Edition

NGA hazy on minority inclusion

supplier diversity program during an exclusive interview in St. Louis City Hall on August 17, the director was not familiar with the term.

Agencies vague about commitments in building $1.75B facility in North City

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Back to school

Charlene Jones is 2016 Lifetime Achiever

By Rebecca Rivas

Charlene Jones remembers walking

“Pruitt-Igoe was a godsend to have the bedroom space for all of the children,” said the 1965 Vashon graduate, “but on the other hand it was so very impoverished.” Looking back, the housing structure was not conducive to living, with so many people living in

“I don’t even know.” Cardillo’s office passed the question off to the See NGA, A6

FebruAry 23, 1947 –AuguSt 20, 2016

George Curry passes at 69

By Hazel Trice Edney Of TriceEdneyWire

Renowned journalist George E. Curry died suddenly of heart failure on Saturday, August 20. He was 69.

“He helped pave the way for other journalists of color to do their jobs without the questions and doubts,” said the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who traveled with Curry extensively, including to the funeral of South African President Nelson Mandela.

George E. Curry

“He was a proud and tireless advocate of the Black Press, serving two tours as editor-inchief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s news service.”

Curry’s fiancée Ann Ragland said the funeral will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, August 27 at the Weeping Mary Baptist Church, 2701 20th St., Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Rev. Al Sharpton will give the eulogy. A public viewing will be held at the church noon to 7 p.m. Friday, August 26, and again Saturday from 8:30-11 a.m. Having grown up in Tuscaloosa during the height of racial segregation, Curry often said he

Photo by Wiley Price

Of The St. Louis American

Charlene Jones

Linesha Cooper, Jamil Lewis and Lauryn Coope

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Master P child support battle with Sonya Miller marches on

Last year, hip hop mogul Percy “Master P” Miller was ordered to pay his ex -wife Sonya Miller $10k a month in alimony and $16k a month in child support for their three minor children.

According to TMZ, Hercy, Mercy, and Itali Miller all wrote letters to the judge in support of their father testifying they’d be better off living with their dad.

“Although I love being with my mom I was unable to keep my grades up,” 17-year-old Itali Miller wrote, according to TMZ. com. “Unfortunately, my mom was dealing with addiction issues that affected my older sister, who hasn’t even had the opportunity to graduate high school.”

Master P also claimed he only earns $2,441 a

month and that he only has $432 in the bank. Sonya was awarded Master P’s entire paycheck from the reality show Master P’s Empire in 2015 to cover $824k in back-child support.

Former Katt Williams assistant sues over alleged assault

According to several reports, Katt Williams just got slapped with a $1 million civil lawsuit by a former assistant who claims he put her in the hospital for talking on the phone.

suing Katt for physical pain and damages in excess of $1 million.

Vince and Tamar’s Ritz Carlton domestic dispute confirmed by police

Monday night, news leaked that Tamar Braxton and husband Vincent Herbert were involved in a domestic skirmish at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Buckhead. Atlanta Police records confirm there was indeed an incident.

Angelina Triplett-Hill claims she was on a movie set in 2014 working for Katt when he noticed she was on the phone. He became enraged and lunged at her. Triplett-Hill says Williams ordered her into a nearby van where he snatched her phone, hurled it towards the other end of the van and then terrorized her. She claims he called her the b-word and became increasingly enraged until he finally hit her in the face, slammed her to the ground and knocked her unconscious.

Triplett-Hill claims she spent three days in the hospital and immediately quit her job. She is now

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the Atlanta Police department records indicated that someone dialed 911 from the location at about 12:40 a.m. Monday but say little else.

AFI postpones Nate Parker event amid controversy

As controversy continues to swirl around “The Birth of a Nation’s” Nate Parker, the American Film Institute has postponed an event with him.

“Upon responding to the call, it was learned that it was just a verbal dispute and nothing criminal had transpired,” APD records say. “The other party left the location prior to police arrival. The call was pulled in ’12’ meaning there was nothing to report. No incident report was generated for the incident.”

On Wednesday morning, TMZ.com released audio footage of the 911 call where a person claiming to be an employee of the hotel describes the incident and names Herbert and Braxton as the involved parties.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, AFI will for now not be moving ahead with a planned Friday screening of the movie or a Q&A with Parker, who wrote, directed and stars in the film.

The film, about a slave uprising led by Nat Turner in 1831, was scheduled to be shown to second year fellows on Friday.

Parker has recently come under fire for an alleged rape during his college days. In 1999, Parker – then a student at Penn State – and his roommate were accused of raping an 18-year-old fellow student. Parker was acquitted of the charges; his roommate, who is a co-writer of “The Birth of a Nation,” was convicted; his conviction was overturned on appeal. It was recently revealed that the accuser committed suicide in 2012. After that news broke, Parker wrote a Facebook posting expressing his sadness

‘Medicaid 23’ convicted of trespassing in Missouri Senate

Jurors recommend that clergy protestors be fined rather than jailed

By Marshall Griffin Of St. Louis Public Radio

It’s a split decision in the trial of the so-called “Medicaid 23,” a group of religious leaders who staged a protest in the Missouri Senate more than two years ago over lawmakers’ refusal to expand Medicaid.

Twenty-two members of the group were found guilty of trespassing for not leaving the Senate gallery when ordered to do so by Capitol police. But they were found not guilty of obstructing the operations of the Senate. The case of one other member will be decided later.

“Under today’s verdict, the right to peacefully protest and petition elected officials for a redress of grievances no longer exists in the Missouri Capitol. Under today’s verdict, daring to challenge the powerful on behalf of the powerless with nothing more than prayer and song is a crime,” said state Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, chairs the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

“This was a purely political prosecution that never should have been brought, and its result must be overturned on

appeal if freedom is to be more than just a concept and constitutional rights more than mere words on a page.”

Cole County prosecutor Mark Richardson argued that the group attempted to shut down the Senate and were deliberately seeking to be arrested. Capitol police chief Todd Hurt testified on August 16 that someone representing the group approached Capitol police ahead of time.

Hurt said he was told “they were going to have a group that was part of a protest that wanted to be arrested that day (May 6, 2014), and that they were going to stage in an area (near) one of the (legislative) chambers. He didn’t specifically tell me which gallery, but he more or less wanted us to be aware of it and be prepared for it.”

Hurt also said he was told “some people that were going to get arrested as part of the demonstration … would have purple armbands on; (we) would know who they were because they were going to identify themselves with purple armbands.”

Hurt also said that they were told that the 23 protesters

would wait to be tapped on the shoulder by an officer, indicating that they were being arrested. Once that happened, each member of the purple-arm banded 23 would then allow

“It’s been two and a half years,” said Capitol police officer Deanne Bogg. “I’m not sure who exactly I tapped on the shoulder.”

Bogg was recalled August

n “This was a purely political prosecution that never should have been brought, and its result must be overturned on appeal.”

– state Rep. Brandon Ellington

state Senator Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, and state Senator Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, testified that the singing and chanting from the protesters did not force the Senate to shut down.

Curls disagreed with the prosecution’s argument, saying that none of the Medicaid 23 members was expecting to be arrested.

Schaefer pointed out that the protests began in the middle of a filibuster by Democrat state Senator Jamilah Nasheed of St. Louis.

He asked, “Do you agree with me that the Senate was recessed early that day because of the disturbance in the Capitol?”

“I can’t say that,” Schaefer answered. “I can say we broke for lunch about the same time that we always do for committee meetings … you’d have to ask the president protem that.”

Richardson shot back, “Why can’t you answer that?”

Schaefer said, “Because he’s the one that calls when we take a break.”

Richardson: “You were there, sir! You don’t remember that day?”

Schaefer: “He just takes a break, and then we take a break! He doesn’t tell us why; he just tells the person who (holds) the gavel.”

Richardson: “You don’t think anybody should be above the law, BUT, it’s okay for these protesters to stop the Senate and trespass?”

Schaefer: “I don’t think anybody broke the law.”

His testimony for the defense shocked many of the defendants, since Schaefer is a staunch opponent of expanding Medicaid, and as chair of the Senate appropriations committee has blocked attempts at expansion.

Schaefer and Curls both said that the Senate journal for May 6, 2014, contained no mention that the Senate was called to stand “at ease,” the normal parliamentary procedure whenever a protest breaks out in the chamber. It instead shows that the Senate recessed, with no mention of the demonstrations.

themselves to be booked.

But when cross-examined by defense attorney Jay Barnes, Hurt said he could not specifically identify which police officers tapped which protester on the shoulder. None of the other police officers could specifically identify any of the Medicaid 23 in court.

17 by the prosecution, to view a videotape of the protesters in the Senate gallery that day. When asked if the protests, as shown in the video, stopped the Senate’s actions, she said, “Yes, it did.”

Two state senators, however, disagreed when called to the stand by the defense. Both

“The purpose of a filibuster is for someone to keep talking so that all activity stops, and you can’t get anything done,” Schaefer said. “We were in the middle of that process when this occurred.”

Richardson, also a Republican, pressed Schaefer on whether the protest disrupted the Senate’s ability to function, and the exchange got a bit heated.

That perhaps could have been the deciding factor for jurors finding the defendants not guilty on the obstruction charge. Each of the 22 members found guilty faced fines of up to $500 and up to six months in jail. On August 18, jurors recommended fines rather than jail time to the judge.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Photo courtesy of Missouri Senate

A group of religious leaders staged a protest in the Missouri Senate over lawmakers’ refusal to expand Medicaid on May 6, 2014.

Editorial /CommEntary

We

will miss you, George Curry

Those of us committed to informing and empowering the black community have that much more hard work to do now that George E. Curry is gone. The former editor of the NNPA News Service and Emerge magazine died suddenly of heart failure on Saturday, August 20 at the tragically early age of 69. His loss was mourned and his contributions hailed by the civil rights leaders of his generation, whom he counted as friends and colleagues, including Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and Rev. Al Sharpton. No less a newsmaker than our next U.S. president, Hillary Clinton, remembered Curry as “a pioneering journalist, a tireless crusader for justice and a true agent of change” and said he had influenced her personally to think beyond her own “narrow” experience and expand her understanding.

We are now in a position to reveal George’s direct, personal influence on The St. Louis American. Years before he had left a successful career in mainstream media, before he became a national leader in minority media and the Black Press, near the end of his tenure as a reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he moonlighted at this newspaper in 1982. The current ownership of the Post could not confirm this, but it was our understanding at the time that George helped us to build the foundation of this newspaper without telling his bosses at the daily paper across town –and at risk of losing his job had his contributions been discovered by Post management.

Rather than leaving a mainstream daily in disgrace for hiding his professional assistance to a black weekly in the same town, George moved up to a larger and more influential newspaper, the Chicago Tribune. After cementing a solid national reputation, which he would never lose, at the Tribune, he returned to black media at Emerge magazine, and would go on to become, as editor of the NNPA News Service, arguably the best national news editor the Black Press has ever known. For years, he also submitted to the nation’s black newspapers a column that always had the enviable power of expressing what sensible people should be thinking and saying about the news of the day, always from a black perspective.

Just consider the last three George Curry headlines to appear in this paper: “Has the U.S. given up on school desegregation?” and “Supreme Court rejects challenge to affirmative action” (in our July 28 Diversity edition) and then, just this week, in our Religion section, “Advocates push black church to minister on AIDS.” Clearly, these are life-or-death issues for our community, and in each case (and countless others) George was there to report the facts fairly and explain what they meant with clear logic leading to forceful conclusions intended to compel change in the reader. Just ask Hillary Clinton, one of many Curry readers whom he compelled to change.

There is, indeed, more hard work to do now that George is not here to help us tell the stories that our community needs to know. Fortunately, he helped to nurture literally thousands of

George Curry

February 23, 1947 – August 20, 2016

black journalists by helping to found a series of Minority Journalism Workshops, starting with his inaugural effort with the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists in 1977.

“He was driven to bring and teach as many young African Americans into journalism as he could,” said our photojournalist Wiley Price, who worked under Curry here in 1982. “George always wanted a powerful African-American publication that could stand on its own in the industry and be a real source of information for its own community.”

When George was working with the NNPA, each time The American was awarded for general excellence, he would place a personal call to our publisher to share the good news. We would like to think he was taking some pride in having done some of the early work that helped to build the foundation of The St. Louis American, which we would like to believe has become “a powerful African-American publication that could stand on its own in the industry and be a real source of information for its own community.” We will miss you, George Curry.

Trump does 360-degree ‘pivot’

Donald Trump’s “pivot,” desperately hoped for by sane Republicans, was over before it began. He couldn’t pretend to be inclusive and statesmanlike for two days in a row if his life depended on it.

Anyone who doubts this should only consider Trump’s idea of an appeal to AfricanAmerican voters: “What do you have to lose by trying something new like Trump? What do you have to lose? You’re living in poverty. Your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?”

That’s right, black Americans. The Republican candidate for president says you live Hobbesian lives of misery and despair, with no options, no prospects, no joy, no hope. Oh, and he wants your vote.

For the record, let me unpack the stunning ignorance in that ostensible pitch for African-American votes, which Trump made August 19 before a virtually all-white audience in Michigan. The black poverty rate is about 27 percent. That’s far too high – the poverty rate for whites is about 10 percent –but the fact is that most African Americans lead comfortable middle-class lives.

The black unemployment rate is about 9 percent – again, too high but nothing like the impression Trump seeks to give. And his claim of 58 percent black youth joblessness is an out-and-out lie. The only way he can arrive at that figure is to include all young people between 16 and 24, including those who are attending high school. If you calculated white

youth unemployment that same way, it would be nearly 50 percent. But it’s ridiculous to count as unemployed a bunch of kids who have to do their chemistry homework.

Eugene Robinson

Does Trump have the faintest clue what black America is really like? From the evidence, no. But I can’t believe he actually thinks he has a chance of winning significant African-American support, given the way he has insulted President Obama, dismissed the issue of police violence and acquiesced in support from the whitesupremacist fringe. Trump has registered as low as 1 percent or 2 percent among black voters in national polls. Instead, he must have been seeking to appeal to white voters who can’t bring themselves to vote for him because of the racist tone of his campaign. Message: I care about African Americans, even if it’s pretty obvious that I don’t know very many.

Hey, at least it worked with Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s new campaign manager. “I’m white,” she said on ABC’s “This Week.” “I was very moved by his comment.”

The desire to convince whites he is not a flaming bigot may also be why one of the pillars of Trump’s campaign – the promise to round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants –

Letters to the editor

Fight to expand Medicaid

By Mike Jones

Of The St. Louis American

Republicans lament how the GOP has come to find itself in the damnable position of having Donald Trump as its 2016 standard-bearer. How could this happen to the Party of Lincoln?

This story begins in 1965 when Lyndon Johnson defeated the racist, segregationist Southern Democratic power bloc that controlled Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. The passage of the Voting Rights Act, and the Civil Rights Act the year before, would not have been possible without the support of Midwestern and Northeastern Republicans in both the House and Senate. LBJ said that the Democrats “just lost the South for a generation.” He was right about the consequences, but the timeline has been more like a half-century and counting.

At that point, the Republican Party made a fateful decision. They could continue their historic 100-year commitment to civil rights and work to help America move beyond the moral shame of its Jim Crow past, or they could choose another path. The chose another path. They seized an opportunity for political gain based upon the bigotry, fear, ignorance and racial resentments of angry Southerners and other marginalized white Americans. An enduring folktale of the Mississippi Delta revolves around what happens when you go to the crossroads at midnight to cut a deal with the devil. The devil will give you whatever you want, but the payment he requires is your soul. After the signing of the Voting Rights Act, the Republican Party

travelled South to make that midnight deal. They got what they wanted: the opportunity to dominate presidential politics and dictate the terms of the national political dialogue. They had to trade their soul. First Richard Nixon created the Southern Strategy to go with his Law and Order and Silent Majority themes and won two terms in the White House. Watergate was not part of the deal, and his unexpected early exit meant that a good man, Jimmy Carter, would be POTUS for four years. But in the interim, Storm Thurmond joined the Republican Party, taking all his racist minions with him, and Jessie Helms became the moral center for congressional Republican politics.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan opened his 1980 presidential campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi – where, in June of 1964, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were brutally murdered by the KKK for registering black people to vote. This is where Ronald Reagan –the patron saint of the modern Republican Party – launched his presidential bid with a speech about states’ rights. George H.W. Bush was too much of a New England aristocrat to go to Mississippi, so for his 1988 presidential campaign he retained a bluesplaying white South Carolina political thug named Lee Atwater, who gave us Willie Horton. His son, George W.

Bush, delivered the Republican political coupe de grace by appointing John Roberts as chief justice, who gutted the Voting Rights Act. It took almost 50 years, but the South got its revenge. Now the hounds from hell that the Republican establishment unleashed on America have turned on them in the form of an uncontrollable mob – their white, mostly male base – led by a vacuous, narcissistic bigot. Donald Trump overturned every Republican orthodoxy of the last 40 years as he was decimating a Republican field of 16 presidential contenders. He now stands as undisputed champion of a party in shambles that has no foreseeable chance of connecting to the young, diverse emerging American demographic majority. There may be something more important – and tragic –at stake than what’s to become of the Republican Party. The Ancient Greeks had a term, ochlocracy, which translated as mob rule. They considered ochlocracy – democracy spoiled by demagoguery – the rule of emotion over reason. The founders of the American Republic feared the tyranny of the mob. Democratic selfgovernance depends upon a people with sufficient intelligence and restraint. The Trump phenomenon represents a perfect example of ochlocracy in a modern society and a failure of American democracy. Mike Jones, who has held senior policy positions in St. Louis city and county government, serves on the St. Louis American editorial board and the State Board of Education.

The conviction for the “Medicaid 23” for exercising their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble and engage in protest marks a dark day and chapter in Missouri history. As one who has engaged in peaceful civil disobedience actions, and who was present during the time of the protest, I can state unequivocally that the charges for which they were convicted should never have been pursued by the prosecutor. I not only resent the prosecutor wasting taxpayer dollars pressing these mean spirited and racially tinged charges, I resent and am disgusted by the manner in which he tried to use me in presenting his case. For him to characterize me as a victim of the protest not only is cynically untrue, it distracts from the true victims I was fighting for on the floor of the Senate at the moment of the protest –the thousands of Missourians deprived of basic health care because the Republicancontrolled General Assembly refuses to expand Medicaid. I encourage the Medicaid 23 to not only continue to fight their case – all the way to the Supreme Court if need be. I urge them to continue to relentlessly push for Medicaid expansion. As far as I am concerned, the fight to expand Medicaid in Missouri has only just begun.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed St. Louis

Denouncing Donald Trump

In my opinion, there is an urgency facing this nation with Donald Trump being the nominee for the Republican Party. I’m dismayed that certain Republican leaders have not stepped up to the plate with courage to not only address Trump but his followers as well. It is my notion leaders like John McCain and Paul Ryan are putting their hold onto

has suddenly gone wobbly. If elected, Trump could never actually carry out such a massive campaign. But antipathy toward Latinos who are “flooding” across the border, allegedly to take Americans’ jobs and commit horrible crimes, is a central tenet of Trumpism. I thought Trump would have to stick with this paranoid revenge fantasy throughout the campaign –until Conway said on August 21 that the final policy on forced deportation is “to be determined.”

The previous day, in a meeting with a group of Hispanic advisers, Trump reportedly said he could consider a procedure in which at least some undocumented men and women could obtain legal status without first going back to their home countries. But the next day, Trump said that “I’m not flip-flopping” on immigration – yet declined to give any specifics on what his position now is.

Poor Conway had better get used to explaining what her candidate must have meant as opposed to what he actually said. She also should get accustomed to the fact that Trump will frequently make her into a liar. “He doesn’t hurl personal insults,” she said Sunday – but then Trump took to Twitter. Within hours, he had slung a personal insult at a regular guest on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” And Monday morning, he lobbed even nastier personal insults at the show’s co-hosts.

Trump’s pivot turned out to be a 360-degree pirouette: Back into the mud, where he feels most at home.

and

power before country; this is a shame considering they both love America. The hero and great American, John McCain, was offered as a prisoner of war in Vietnam with the option of going home and leaving his fellow prisoners behind; he declined. Where is that John McCain now? Paul Ryan showed some grit when he stated he was not ready to endorse Donald Trump; why did he put power first over country by eventually endorsing Mr. Trump?

It is no secret that many followers of Trump are as dangerous as he is; it is my opinion many have been indoctrinated by hate radio and plainly just misled. The moment and time is here for all Republican leaders to go beyond power and do the right thing for America by denouncing Donald Trump

along with enlightening his followers.

Alfred Waddell Hyannis, Massachusetts

Focusing on Michael Brown

Before Michael Brown’s death there were many black deaths. After Michael Brown’s death there have been many black deaths. While in the store last week, I saw the front page of this paper. How in the hell can you continue to ignore the other black deaths? How in the hell can you continue to disrespect other families who have lost loved ones by just focusing on Michael Brown’s death?

Lisa A. Williams St. Louis

Columnist

Tiny guitarists

Library sponsors Young Adult Poetry Contest

St. Louis County Library is looking for poets to participate in its Young Adult Poetry Contest beginning September 1. Any person age 16-21 with a valid St. Louis County Library borrower’s card is eligible to submit via email one original poem for consideration. First and second place winners will receive a gift card, and the winning poems will be posted on the library’s website. Deadline for submissions is October 14. Winners will be notified by Friday, October 28 and selected poems will be posted within one week. Official rules and guidelines are posted on the library’s website at www.slcl.org/teens/poetry-contest. For questions about the poetry contest or about obtaining a library card, call 314-994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org.

Ferguson-Dellwood Community Resource Center now open

The Ferguson-Dellwood Community Resource Center is now open at 1433 Stein Rd. in Ferguson. The center will serve as a networking arm for all North County non-profits and other organizations that share their mission: to support and strengthen local communities and empower residents to reach their full potential. It will be used for educational programs, community meetings and other activities, and includes a medical area that will house the Salam Clinic, which provides free adult medical care. Newly appointed Executive Director J. Toni Burrow sees partnering with other nonprofits crucial to the center’s mission to connect individuals and families, with discretion and respect, to multiple resource providers to ensure a holistic approach in meeting needs, including family counseling, education, financial stability, adequate and safe housing, and employment. For more information, contact Toni Burrow at 314-695-4400.

Trump and us

By Christi Griffin Guest columnist

While many have laughed, at no time was the presidential bid of Donald Trump humorous. Although television networks viewed Trump’s initial antics as entertainment, they underestimated the intoxicating elixir of power and the impact it would ultimately have on those who shared his views or lacked a sense of direction. Cashing in on ratings, news outlets and political shows showered Trump with unprecedented free coverage for months. In the process, they helped draw out of the woodwork those who have long held views of hatred and prejudice. Through Trump’s use of fear and false hope, he attracted others who sat on the fence for years. The media, by providing Trump a megaphone, assisted him in arming millions with ammunition, both real and figurative, as the solution to their barren lives.

Lacking the skill to design real solutions, Trump resorted to hate speech and violence – and the media played their role. Assault weapons took flight off the shelves owned by capitalists who financed and stoked the flames. Trump continued to dangle the bait, and networks fed off the ignorance that reached a feverish pitch.

With only months to go before this crucial election, the consequences of this game has emerged. More troubling than Donald Trump’s campaign of sexism, racism, xenophobia and violence – what will survive even a failed bid for the White House – are the millions of people who follow blindly behind this Pied Piper of hate. Trump has succeeded in luring millions into believing their problems are caused by someone else and that walls, exclusion and getrich-quick schemes will suddenly fix their plight.

He’s used smoke and mirrors to disarm those already struggling for answers and convinced the middle class that the richest nation on earth is not rich enough, that those with an average of two cars in the garage somehow need three, and that homes with indoor plumbing, granite counters and hardwood floors leave them needing more.

He’s shipped jobs out of the country and blamed Obama for the deed. He’s built his businesses by being “very, very smart” and grew them by filing for bankruptcy many times, but they’re convinced that their path will be easy. And therein lies the danger.

We, as the American people, lost crucial ground while media moguls got rich. We watched the country further divide, hate dig in, and disparity grow beyond measure. In the wake of Trump’s instability and the closer the election comes, the media appear to take reporting more seriously than before. With viewership buoyed by Trumps daily antics, political newsrooms no longer give nods to all things fabricated and grossly distasteful acts. Even FOX has taken notice.

The problem isn’t limited to us getting close to a mad man holding the button. A growing psychosis fed by fear and uncertainty threatens the very fabric of society. We can’t let Trump control the conversation that ultimately affects us all.

Christi Griffin, is the founder of The Ethics Project, a nonprofit organization addressing the impact of crime, injustice and incarcerations. She is the author of “Incarcerations in Black and White: The Subjugation of Black America.”

Christi Griffin

Adams Elementary School guitar students Adarah Sanders, Aniala Kamkwalala, Larry Burnett, and Stepphion Sutton entertained parents and students at the Back to School Festival held at Chafietz Arena on August 13.

Photo by Wiley Price

CURRY

Continued from A1

“George Curry was a journalist who paid special attention to civil rights because he lived it and loved it,” Dr. Bernard Lafayette, MLK confidant and chairman of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), said through his spokesman Maynard Eaton.

Curry’s connection to the SCLC was through his longtime childhood friend, confidant and ally in civil rights, Dr. Charles Steele, SCLC president. Steele and Curry grew up together in Tuscaloosa, where they played football at Druid High School. Curry bloomed as a journalist

NGA

Continued from A1 “fled Alabama” and vowed never to return. However, Ragland said he always told her to return him home to Tuscaloosa upon his death.

Army Corps’ diversity officer, who told The American he did not have the authority to make that call. The Army Corps’ spokesperson then told The American that it was the “project contracting officer” who would decide the minority participation goals for the entire project. And the contracting officer will set the goals at the federal minimum – 14.7 percent minority and 6.9 percent women workers. However, those goals do not reflect city’s minority population or ensure that local workers get a piece of the pie.

as Steele grew into a politician and civil rights leader. “He was a pacesetter with the pen. He saw things that other people didn’t see,” said Steele. “And once he saw those things, he embraced them and exposed them in terms of putting information into the hands of people who would normally be left out of the process, meaning the AfricanAmerican community.”

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G. K. Butterfield (D-North Carolina), said in a statement: “George E. Curry was a giant in journalism and he stood on the front lines of the Civil Rights era and used his voice to tell our stories when others would not.”

Curry began his journalism career at Sports Illustrated, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Chicago Tribune. But he is most revered for his editorship of the award-winning former Emerge Magazine and, more

recently, for his work as editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) from 2001-2007. He returned to leadership of the NNPA News Service in 2012 until last year.

“The news of George’s death leaves a tremendous void that will be difficult to fill,” said NNPA Chairwoman Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of the Washington Informer. “George’s uncompromising journalistic leadership delivered on Emerge’s promise to deliver edgy, hard-hitting, intellectual, well-written and thoroughly researched content that attracted national attention and left an indelible mark on the lives of many.”

Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American, said of Curry, “George was a true professional.” It is not widely known that Curry moonlighted

at The American for about four months in 1982, while he was still employed by the PostDispatch, the daily paper across town. “With Robert Joiner and others, George helped to establish the foundation of our newspaper,” Suggs said.

Jake Oliver, publisher and chairman of the Baltimorebased Afro American Newspapers, who first hired Curry as NNPA editor-inchief, said, “George was a journalist par excellence. He spent a lot of time at his craft and perfected it at a high level. And, as a result, he was able to generate national and, indeed, international respect.”

In 2000, the University of Missouri presented Curry with its Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism, the same honor it had earlier bestowed on Joseph Pulitzer, Walter Cronkite, John H. Johnson and Winston Churchill.

In 2003, he was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists (NAPJ). “He has been a beacon for so many and a pivotal voice among black publishers,” NABJ

President Sarah Glover said in a statement. “His strength and pursuit for the truth will carry on in the lives he touched.”

His friend Neil Foote, president of the National Black Public Relations Society, and former colleague Alvin A. Reid, sports columnist for The American, both recalled Curry’s legacy grooming young, black journalists by founding minority journalism workshops. Curry chaired a committee at the National Press Foundation, which funded more than 15 workshops modeled after the one he founded in St. Louis in 1977.

“George has made so many contributions to journalism – from the high school

journalism workshops to his passionate fight for the Black Press,” Foote said. Curry did a weekly commentary on Sharpton’s radio show. He appeared on the show on Friday, the day before his death.

Sharpton said Curry’s legacy “is integrity, is boldness, is holding people – including black leaders that were his friends – accountable, and defending us when we deserved it. He held us all accountable as he also told our story, with no fear and no concern about his own career.”

When Curry died, he was raising money to fully fund Emerge News Online, a digital version of the former magazine.

“He was still fighting to revive that magazine until his last moment on earth,” TV-ONE host Roland S. Martin told the NABJ. “George Curry died with his boots on, still fighting.”

These goals are based on an extensive disparity study, which found that St. Louis city has the capacity to employ this number of minorities. The NGA project will likely create 425 construction jobs and 250 “immediate indirect jobs” connected to the construction. The solicitation for bids on the project will be posted on the FedBizOpps website in late October, according to the Army.

The American asked Cardillo what he thought of the council’s proposal, and he said, “The Army Corps will follow all federal guidelines. I appreciate that that letter went beyond that. I would just have to defer to the Army to speak to how they make decisions about what percentage ultimately is awarded.”

Employment opportunities for minorities have been the center of discussion for the

In February, the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council wrote a letter to Cardillo proposing that at least 37.81 percent of all labor hours on the facility would go to minorities, which more than doubles the inclusion goals set forth in federal guidelines. The St. Louis union council also proposed that at least 23.28 percent of all labor hours would go to St. Louis city residents, and 6.9 percent of all labor hours would go to women.

past two years following the Ferguson unrest. The American asked the Army Corps if the region’s attention on this matter would encourage the Army to consider higher minority workforce goals.

The Army responded, “We are still conducting research on project labor agreements and are open to discussion.”

While the union council is seemingly trying to employ minorities, there’s a major catch in its aggressive proposal. All the project’s workers would have to be union members – and construction unions in this area have historically been regarded as unwelcoming by minorities.

When asked if area unions currently have enough minority members to reach the council’s proposed goals, its executive secretary-treasurer Jeff Aboussie said, “To start the project off, I believe we do.”

Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis City NAACP, said he would lean away from project labor agreements and more towards a “community benefits agreement,” which

would allow union and nonunion workers to compete for the jobs.

The NGA’s decision to build the facility in North City was lauded by many leaders as an opportunity to reinvest in an area that has been in ruin for decades. However, if the project only aims to meet the minimum federal goals – which do not address employing local residents –then that applause was for naught, Pruitt said.

“It would be a significant embarrassment for the City of St. Louis, the State of Missouri and the federal government –including the president’s office – if they would spent that type of money in the one of the most disadvantaged, blighted communities and the folks who live around it are the least to benefit from it,” Pruitt said. “If that would to happen, I would do my best to stop the project.”

Unfamiliar with supplier diversity

Pruitt said he would like to see minorities participate at the greatest level on the construction side. However, more importantly, he would like to see permanent employment opportunities for minority businesses through supply and professional service contracts.

North City is also in a HUB Zone – or an area where Historically Underutilized Businesses get a preference at government contracts.

“NGA should be a magnet for small minority businesses to move into a HUB Zone, not only to supply NGA, but also to grow and supply other government agencies and build a minority supply infrastructure,” Pruitt said.

“There are a lot of job-creation opportunities that can spin off this.”

The American asked Cardillo about the agency’s supplier diversity program.

The director was not familiar with the term, which was created by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Many government agencies and corporations have created supplier diversity programs, which give minorityowned, women-owned and underutilized businesses opportunities to secure contracts.

Looking at the number of contracts that NGA currently awards to disadvantaged businesses, it’s not difficult to see why Cardillo is unfamiliar with supplier diversity programs.

NGA currently aims to award five percent of its contract dollars to disadvantaged businesses. And in fiscal year 2014, it only achieved 0.87 percent –

not even a full percent. The agency’s goals for HUB Zone business contracts was three percent, and in FY 2014 the agency awarded zero dollars to these businesses. The agency awarded 12.42 percent to small businesses in the same year, meeting less than half of the agency’s 28 percent goal.

The American asked the agency’s Office of Small Business why they struggled to award contracts to HUB Zone and disadvantaged businesses.

In an email, a NGA spokesman wrote that the challenges in meeting these goals include “the size of the requirement and the lack of capability.”

“NGA continues to focus on carving out work for small businesses,” the spokesman wrote, “and work on innovative approaches to provide more opportunities for small business to be the prime contractor.”

NGA is receiving a considerable amount of tax incentives to build the facility. The state has committed $131 million for infrastructure improvements – $95 million in Tax Incremental Financing and approximately $36 million in Brownfield Tax Credits. The city also agreed to give the land – with an estimated value of $14 million – to NGA for free, as well as provide NGA with a $1.5 million annual contribution for up to 30 years.

JONES

Continued from A1

a small area, she said. But Vashon teachers didn’t care what neighborhood the students came from; they demanded excellence, she said.

In the late 1990s, Jones was able to give back to the school that supported her success. As a St. Louis Public Schools administrator, Jones led the campaign that passed a $40-million bond issue to build a new Vashon High School. The facility opened in 2002.

“That was phenomenal,” she said. “Students who attend Vashon High School come from the most challenging neighborhoods that you will find in the metropolitan area. To be able to give them a stateof-the-art school that they can learn in, that is something I am very proud of.”

Over the course of her 25 years with the St. Louis Public Schools, Jones directed 24 tax and bond-issue campaigns. She only lost four of them. In total she raised more than $500 million for the district, including an $80-million bond issue to air-condition the schools and a $100-million bond issue to fund the district’s largest renovation of schools in its history.

On Saturday, October 1, Jones will receive the 2016 Lifetime Achiever in Education award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala.

“The smartest person I know is Charlene,” former city comptroller Virvus Jones said of his longtime, informal campaign consultant and friend. “Tax campaigns are harder to win than candidate campaigns. From my perspective, she is one of the least-known but one of the smartest people in understanding this political environment and how to win campaigns.”

Charlene (not related to Virvus) led the campaign this past spring for a propertytax increase that secured $27 million for the district. It passed with 67 percent of the vote.

Virvus said he first met Charlene when they were both professors at St. Louis Community College. Virvus introduced Charlene to then SLPS superintendent Jerome Jones, who was the district’s first African-American super. In April 1983, the district had just unsuccessfully attempted to pass a bond issue and only received 37 percent of the vote, “which was awful,” Charlene said. She then developed and managed her first campaign for the district in November 1983, which led the district to its first win in many years.

Charlene said the district’s biggest mistake was believing that all it needed to do was put the issue on the ballot and they would win, she said. “That has never been the

case,” she said. “If you want to win, there’s a full host of things that have to be put in place.”

Charlene held several administrative positions in the district, while simultaneously managing the district’s ballots issues. Those positions included executive director of planning, associate superintendent for personnel, and assistant to the superintendent. She spearheaded the districts’ comprehensive long-range plan, and assisted the Special Administrative Board in coordinating the Saturday Summit – which drew a record attendance of 1,500 parents, staff and community members to begin the planning process.

“As a veteran educator and public servant, her contribution to the St. Louis community is legendary,” said Dwaun J.

Warmack, president of HarrisStowe. “Dr. Jones has been a fierce advocate for improving education opportunities for students for more than 30 years.”

Over the past seven years at Harris-Stowe, Charlene has helped to establish and grow the university’s political science program and serves as a trusted mentor for many students, Warmack said.

“She came to HarrisStowe just as the country was celebrating its first AfricanAmerican president, so there was renewed student interest in politics and public service,” he said.

She has harnessed that enthusiasm to increase participation in the university’s Constitution Day celebration, which she established. The annual event highlights the importance

of the U.S. Constitution as the bedrock of our country’s democracy and demonstrates to students how relevant is to their lives today.

Harris-Stowe first offered a political science degree in the 2015-16 academic year.

There are currently about a dozen students in the program, and the first students may be eligible to graduate next year.

Charlene’s support for Harris-Stowe precedes her tenure as a professor, since she was an ardent member of the HSSU Board of Regents for several years.

As a high school student at Vashon, Charlene was a National Honor Society member, president of senior band and captain of the cheerleaders. She received a full scholarship to Rockford College and obtained her bachelor’s degree in political

science in 1968. She received her master’s in political science from University of Colorado – Boulder in 1971 and her doctorate in public policy analysis and administration from Saint Louis University in 1986.

“What makes her unique is that she is not only educated in the field, she has experience in it,” said former state legislator and attorney Elbert Walton.

“Charlene has been one of the leading people in St. Louis who have provided good council and good support in publicpolicy decision making.”

Virvus said that both he and Charlene’s humble beginnings were influential in their career paths.

“We both were poor, but early on we both concluded that there are two types of power in the world – economic power and political power,” Virvus said. “Given we weren’t born rich and in the middle class, the prospect of getting economic power was limited. But the time when we came along was when the political process was being opened up.” Charlene agreed with Virvus’ assessment. And early on, she decided that she wanted to use political power to improve education.

“When you win, you win money that can go into the school district to help students,” Charlene said. “The most satisfying accomplishment of my tenure is being able to give students – who would not have the resources otherwise – the resources they need to succeed.”

The 2016 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the America’s Center Ballroom, following a reception at 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $85 each/$850 table, and VIP/ Corporate tickets are $1,500 table. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. stlamerican.com and click on Salute to Excellence, or call 314-533-8000.

On October 1, Charlene Jones will receive the 2016 Lifetime Achiever in Education award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala. Her current position is assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Harris-Stowe State University.

Photo by Wiley Price

Student gets probation for free speech

When Christopher Winston returned to Saint Louis University this semester, I’m sure it didn’t shine with as much promise as it did the previous year. That’s because last semester, Winston was hit with what some may call slander and a harsh penalty for questioning human rights abuses by the Israeli government against the Palestinians.

Winston showed up as the only African-American student to a forum by the Jewish Students Association (JSA). He raised questions about the occupation of Palestine and specifically about the attacks on the Palestinian Red Crescent attempting to provide medical responses to Palestinian community. There was a bit of verbal jostling, but nothing that rose to the level

of a physical confrontation, based on watching a video of the encounter and talking with Winston.

Still, about a week later, this black student received the equivalent of a summons and a restraining order. A complaint had been filed by two members of the JSA, Scott Lasky and David Weinstein. During the non-violent verbal exchange Lasky and Weinstein said they felt – you guessed it –concerned about their “safety and well-being.”

As a result, Winston told me that he was charged with being involved in a bias incident and with disruptive conduct. He appealed the charges to no avail and remains on probation until the end of next year (2017). Should he violate the conditions of his probation, Saint Louis University is ready to smack

him with further sanctions.

This situation is just wrong on so many levels.

How does one side get to make accusations without the other party being interviewed or the accuser having the right to confront his accusers? Does the answer to this question lie in the respective races of the two parties? I would give an emphatic yes!

What happened to the concept of academic rigor and freedom?

that Palestinian human rights were at the center of this controversy? I would give an emphatic yes!

Universities and colleges like to tout having environments where both students and professors are encouraged to engage in discussion and debate about current issues. Does the answer to this question lie in the fact

Columnist Jamala Rogers

Because someone asked a question about Israeli policy doesn’t make them antiSemitic. Is a year on “paper” too harsh a sentence when the so-called crime is asking a series of legitimate questions?

What punishment did the white SLU baseball players get when they used their chat group to call President Obama a “watermelon-eating baboon”?

All of this is happening as the Saint Louis Clock Tower Accord gets negotiated. These are the 13 demands coming from students (and supported by many

community groups) involved in the protests and occupation of the campus clock tower area back in 2015 in the wake of police murders of unarmed black citizens like Mike Brown.

As someone who advocates questioning authority, I find this kind of repression of free speech and biased punishment offensive.

I encourage young people to challenge the assumptions, stereotypes and downright lies that come to them under the guise of education. Like that slavery was a good thing for black people. Like that Christopher Columbus “discovered” a place where indigenous people were already living. Like women need to work harder to make up the current income gap. Like. Like. Like.

Campuses are a microcosm

of our society, and they can serve as great laboratories for practicing and promoting true democratic principles. They are fertile grounds to learn how to fight racism, sexism, homophobia and Islamophobia in the world outside the insulated campus. If this institution of higher learning is serious about reflecting its own Jesuit mission of providing its students with a “highly rigorous and deeply transformative education,” it may want to rethink the case of Christopher Winston. Otherwise, it looks like his education lesson is to keep his mouth shut, stay in his place and shuffle along for the rest of his black life.

Judge halts school board elections in Ferg-Flor

Sides with ACLU, NAACP that current system violates black voting rights

By Dale Singer and Rachel Lippmann

Of St. Louis Public Radio

A federal judge has ruled that at-large elections for seats on the board for the FergusonFlorissant School District violate the rights of AfricanAmerican voters in the district.

Three-quarters of the students served by the Ferguson-Florissant School District are black, but African Americans make up a minority of the voting-age population in the district’s boundaries. In a ruling issued Monday, August 22, Judge Rodney Sippel agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP that those two facts mean the rights of AfricanAmerican voters are violated.

“The fact that the electoral process in FFSD Board elections is not equally open to African Americans is most apparent in the stark levels of racially polarized voting seen in board elections and the failure of white voters to support candidates from the African-American community, which has essentially blocked African-American voters from exercising effective political power in the district,” Sippel

wrote. Sippel has blocked the district from holding future school board elections until the voting rights problem is solved. The next school board election was scheduled for April 2017.

Nimrod Chapel, the president of the Missouri NAACP, said his organization was “proud of the result in this case.” An attorney for the school board, Cindy Ormsby, said in a statement that the district was disappointed in the ruling and was considering all options, including an appeal.

“The district continues to believe that the current at-large electoral system is best for African-American representation,” Ormsby wrote.

“In fact, the court found that whites in the district are a plurality of the voting-age population. Therefore, the current makeup of the board, four whites and three African Americans, would reflect a proportional representation.”

Dale Ho, an attorney from New York who handles voting rights cases nationwide for the ACLU, said the shooting of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson in 2014 brought a sharper focus to the issue. But, he added, it really has been present since

Attorney Dale Ho (center) with plaintiffs Redditt

lawsuit against the Ferguson-Florissant School

the 1970s, when the FergusonFlorissant School District was created from the Ferguson, Berkeley and Kinloch districts under a federal court order.

“This is a place where there are wide disparities across a range of socio-economic indicators, everything from income, wealth, employment, rates, home ownership, vehicle ownership,” Ho said.

“When you combine all of these socio-economic disparities, the truth is that the

African-American community there is at a disadvantage, and when voting is polarized along racial lines, as it is in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, an area that has had a very deep and longstanding history of racial tension, what it means then is that disadvantaged communities can’t wield effective political clout.”

A spokesman for the Missouri School Boards Association said the association

has always preferred at-large representation on boards rather than representation by subdistricts.

The suit was filed in December 2014 on behalf of three residents of the district - Redditt Hudson, F. Willis Johnson and Doris Baileyagainst Ferguson-Florissant School District and the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners.

Ho said the FergusonFlorissant case has national

implications for equal voting rights.

“Ferguson as a place has taken on some symbolic importance as an exemplar of the racial inequalities that unfortunately in 2016 we still face around this country,” he said. “We see this lawsuit as one way of trying to start to address the political structures which entrench those inequalities.”

Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Photo by Diane Balogh | ACLU of Missouri

Hudson and F. Willis Johnson at a press conference announcing a

District in 2014.

One promotion – two lawsuits – one political miscalculation

One promotion – two discrimination lawsuits.

Last September 30, St. Louis Police Commissioner Sam Dotson promoted Major Ronnie L. Robinson to a new lieutenant colonel position created within the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to lead what was to be called the Bureau of Community Outreach and Organization Development.

Robinson, a black man, was promoted over Major Michael Caruso, a white man, and Major Rochelle Jones many of her colleagues call her “Rocky” – who is a black woman.

Caruso filed suit against Dotson and the City of St. Louis on August 17, alleging racial discrimination. He argued that he has more education and experience than Robinson, and outscored him on a competency exam, yet Robinson was promoted over him on the basis of race.

Jones literally followed suit on August 23, alleging gender discrimination. She argued that she has more education and experience than Robinson, and outscored him on a competency exam, yet Robinson was promoted over her based on the basis of gender.

Both are represented by the law firm of Chet Pleban. One promotion – two discrimination lawsuits – one law firm.

It is a fact that Robinson was promoted over both Caruso and Jones, although both have more experience and education, and both outscored him on a competency exam. Caruso claims that only race can explain Robinson’s promotion. Jones claims that only gender can explain it. Pleban’s firm presumably will claim both, though at different times and

in different trials, if these pleadings get that far.

At a press conference on Tuesday, August 23, Jones told media that Dotson told her confidentially that the promotion would go to either her or Robinson. (Dotson is not commenting on the specifics of the case to media while the litigation is pending.) It’s entirely plausible that Dotson would have been determined to promote a black commander to lead the newly created Bureau of Community Outreach and Organization Development. Dotson’s boss, Mayor Francis G. Slay, told the St. Louis Regional Chamber and public that he intends for Ferguson to be a defining moment for his waning tenure, and the new bureau is a post-Ferguson artifact intended to smooth tensions between police and the community – the black community. The symbolism (and, arguably, the efficacy) of this bureau would be a lot stronger with a newly minted black lieutenant colonel running the show.

But if Dotson – regardless of what he claims in court or that records reveal – was determined to promote a qualified black commander, why pick the candidate with the least seniority and education and poorest performance on a standardized test?

“The only thing I can see is that I am a female,” Jones told media.

The EYE can see another reason. Promotions to upperlevel police command posts are few, far between and hotly contested. Police chiefs are by the duties of their office political animals, and that’s even true of police chiefs who are not mulling a run for mayor, as Dotson has been

doing since Slay announced he would not seek reelection.

Whatever Caruso and Jones claim in court, as police veterans they must know that Dotson judged Robinson to have more political “stick” or “steam,” as cops say, than they have – that Dotson thought a promotion of Robinson offered him more favorable political blowback than a promotion of either of them.

One promotion – two discrimination lawsuits –one law firm – one political miscalculation.

Gender at the PD

This political argument does not in any way dismiss the plausibility of gender discrimination in the St. Louis police department. For the record, from Jones’ suit: “The first female did not even graduate from the Police Academy with the same status and rights of male police officers until 1951 (over 140 years after the department was established). The first female did not attain the rank of sergeant until 1973, and the first African-American female did not attain the rank of sergeant until 1977. The first female did not attain the rank of lieutenant until 1987, and the first African-American female did not attain the rank of lieutenant until 1990. The first female did not attain the rank of captain until 1993, and the first African-American female was

not promoted to captain until 1996. The first female did not attain the rank of major until 2000. While the first female major in the department’s history is African-American, she never attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and sued the department on the grounds that she was not promoted after participating in a sexual harassment investigation involving a male lieutenant colonel. Her case ultimately settled.”

Gender and the next mayor

Gender will be a factor in the upcoming mayoral election. Lyda Krewson, the 28th Ward alderwoman, already has announced her intention to try to become St. Louis’ first woman mayor, but she is expected to have other challengers seeking the same honor. The “Draft Tishaura” group is trying to persuade Tishaura O. Jones, the city treasurer who recently won her primary to get reelected, to run.

Jamilah Nasheed, the state senator from Senate District 5 in the city who recently won her primary, also has been making exploratory calls. Soon after winning her primary on August 2, Nasheed jumped into the news by turning in signatures to the city election board for a ballot initiative. This is a city charter change that would

in reviewing the results of the August 2 primary. According to Walton, all of the credit belongs to himself and his political organization. He pointed out that his daughter, Rochelle WaltonGray, who won the primary for the County Council’s 4th District, and her husband, Alan Gray, who won the primary in state House District 75, are members – not of the Fannie Lou Hamer caucus, which this paper never claimed – but of the Unity PAC. He described Unity PAC as “a political action black caucus, led by her father, former state representative, Elbert Walton [Elbert speaking of Elbert in the third-person here], which has and continues to have a successful agenda of electing black candidates to replace white office holders in predominantly black political subdivisions of north St. Louis County, including fire districts, school boards, municipal offices, special districts, and state legislative districts, as well as to the democratic central committee of St. Louis County.”

Two thoughts here.

make Recorder of Deeds an appointed office rather than an elected office, as it is now, with the cost savings intended to purchase body cameras for the police. Skeptics point out that there is no guarantee that the Board of Aldermen (or police union) will approve spending any savings on police cameras – if, indeed, enough money would be saved to start and maintain a police body camera program.

Nasheed is working with billionaire financier and political investor Rex Sinquefield on this small government initiative. What her connection to Sinquefield portends for the mayor’s race and her prospective role in it remains to be seen. There already is one announced black male candidate – Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen, who lost to Slay handily in 2013 – with another black male candidate (Antonio French, 21st Ward alderman) floating trial balloons in the form of videos. Nasheed’s potential as a black female spoiler, should Tishaura Jones run for mayor, is not lost on anyone.

Elbert and Unity PAC did it

Elbert Walton sent a lengthy screed objecting to The American’s focus on the Fannie Lou Hamer caucus in the Missouri Democrat Party

Yes, Elbert is correct. Unity PAC has been working to elect black candidates in North County for a very long time and had a critical role in the success of his daughter, his son-in-law, and his daughter’s brother-inlaw, Jay Mosley (in the 68th House District), on August 2. However, the EYE believes it is not doing any favors to the presumptive new County Council member to tie her so completely to legacy politics and her father, in particular. One need only review Elbert’s work representing the nowimpeached mayor of Jennings and the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, which ended up under court supervision, to understand why he is not her best calling card.

‘Race-neutral’

justice

A ray of hope for justice came from the Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 23, which handed down a decision that vacated the conviction of Roscoe Meeks for first-degree assault and armed criminal action because the trial judge allowed the prosecutor to strike a prospective black juror from the jury pool without providing a “race-neutral” explanation. The state’s highest court was unanimous: You can’t exclude a potential juror because they are black.

Photo by Wiley Price

Major Rochelle Jones and her attorney J.C. Pleban addressed media concerning her gender discrimination suit against St. Louis Police Commissioner Sam Dotson and the City of St. Louis on Tuesday, August 23.

Franks wins first battle over election results

Election board ordered to hand over absentee ballots in

By Mariah Stewart

Of The St. Louis American

state rep race

This was after Roland wrote to the board about his concerns on absentees.

The St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners violated Missouri Sunshine law when they failed to fulfill a request for David Roland, a lawyer representing political newcomer and local activist Bruce Franks Jr., a circuit court judge ruled on Tuesday, August 23.

“Accordingly, It is declared that defendants violated the law when they failed to furnish Mr. Roland with the copies of the ballot applications and ballot envelopes that he had requested,” St. Louis Circuit Judge Julian L. Bush wrote in his partial judgment.

In the Democratic primary on August 2, Franks lost in House District 78 to incumbent Penny Hubbard by 90 votes. Based on unofficial election results, Bruce received 1,992 votes to Hubbard’s 1,776. If it had not been for the considerable 414 absentee votes Hubbard received, Franks would’ve won the election. Hubbard received 78 percent of absentee ballots cast.

“Although I am very pleased with this ruling and with how quickly Judge Bush issued it, there is still the outstanding question of whether the board and its members acted knowingly or purposefully when they committed this violation,” Roland told The American via email.

Prior to the primary election, Franks hired lawyer Roland to investigate the disproportionate number of absentee ballots filed whenever Hubbard, her husband Rodney Hubbard –5th Ward committeeman and longtime North Side power broker – or one of their children campaign for office. The average amount of absentee ballots per precinct is 2 to 10 percent, but when the Hubbards run for office, the number of absentee ballots in their races inflates to 20 percent or more, according to Roland.

In July, Roland filed a sunshine request with the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners to examine the absentee ballot applications.

In Roland’s first letter, he asked the election authority to look over ballot applications in the 5th Ward, appoint teams to witness the signing of voter’s applications and the voting and returning of ballots.

Instead of showing concern about the alarming presence of absentee ballots surrounding the Hubbards, the election authority lawyers responded in a letter that scolded Roland’s request for making demands that go “far beyond anything required of the board.”

Also in the letter, the commissioners’ lawyers, David Sweeney and Celeste Dodson, claimed that Roland’s demands would “intrude on individual voters’ rights and could amount to acts of voter suppression by the board.”

In response, Roland filed a sunshine request for copies of absentee ballot applications and envelopes, which Sweeney and Dodson denied.

When denying Roland’s request, the commission’s lawyers pointed to Missouri Statute section 115.493 RSMo, which says “processed ballot materials in write-in forms” are not to be inspected by anyone for 22 months after an election.

Bush wrote in his judgment that the phrase “processed ballot materials in write-in forms” is “awkward at best and gobbledygook at worse, and it is certainly not self-evident that absentee ballot envelopes are such things.”

Bush ruled that the absentee envelopes should have been granted to Roland.

“I am hopeful that finally having access to these records will help Bruce Franks and I demonstrate that, due to unlawful use of the absentee balloting system, there is significant doubt as to the legitimacy of Penny Hubbard’s 90-vote margin of victory in the August 2 primary to choose the Democratic nominee to serve the 78th House District,” Roland said.

Last week, Franks filed a lawsuit stating that nearly 300 of the absentee votes cast were

On Wednesday, August 18, Bruce Franks

filed a challenge to the election results for the 78th House District in the August 2 Democratic primary. He claimed that fraudulent use of the absentee balloting system in

skewed the results of his

incumbent, state

received 78 percent of absentee

allowing

to

not qualified.

On Monday, August 25, Judge Bush put a hold on

a special election re-vote sought by Franks for the state representative race until the

Missouri secretary of state’s office certifies the August 2 primary election results.

Jr. official

St. Louis

race. The

Rep. Penny Hubbard,

ballots cast,

her

finish 90 votes ahead of Franks. Franks (sixth from left) walked to the Carnahan Courthouse after filing at the election board, joined by Eric Prospect White, Mitch Eagles, Megan Betts, Lee Smith, Nick Apperson, Natalie Vowell, Michael Berg and Rasheen Aldridge.

Photo by Wiley Price

SNAP bargains

Doubling the bucks for healthy food

Weight gain after kicking the habit

By Sandra Jordan

St. Louis American

The

Of

Doubling your money when you are buying groceries is a reality for shoppers in the Double Up Food Bucks program. It launched recently in the St. Louis area, and is funded, in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and by private donors to benefit SNAP recipients and to sell produce from local fruit and vegetable growers.

“The Double Up Food Bucks program is a program for SNAP recipients at farmer’s markets and grocery stores to get more money to spend on fruits and vegetables,” said Brian DeSmet, program manager, Missouri Double Up Food Bucks.

n “The Double Up Food Bucks program is a program for SNAP recipients at farmer’s markets and grocery stores to get more money to spend on fruits and vegetables.”

– Brian DeSmet

At the farmer’s market, DeSmet said shoppers use their EBT card to purchase SNAP tokens, and they get a matching amount of Double Up Food Bucks tokens to spend on fruits and vegetables.

“We do it up to $25 each day, so if they give $5, we give $10, and it’s two different types of tokens so they can spend on different things,” he explained. “SNAP tokens can be spent on anything that is SNAP-eligible. Double Up Food Bucks tokens can be spent on fruits and vegetables.”

Renee and Marcus McMiller learned about doubling their food bucks when they were hunting for the perfect green tomatoes to fry from the Ferguson Farmer’s Market.

Renee “I’m going to see how this

works,” Renee McMiller said about Double Up Food Bucks program – with her eyes fixed on the unripe fruit from Cascade Farms. “We are just going to buy these tomatoes over here.”

The program works a little differently in participating grocery stores.

At the grocery stores … they buy up to $25 of local produce on their card, and they get a coupon or voucher that they can spend on produce from anywhere,” DeSmet said. “That can be used when local produce is not in season,

later in the season. You don’t have to use it that day, so people can use it later in the month when the EBT card is down.”

Currently, City Greens, Local Harvest Grocery and the mobile St. Louis MetroMarket are participating grocers.

“We’re working, trying to get in the City Plaza store at Schnucks ready for the program. That is at Union and Natural Bridge; that’s going to be our pilot store for them,” DeSmet

See FOOD, A13

Brittany Tru Campbell, of EarthDance Organic Farm School, knows the importance of good nutrition. She buys local produce for her family through the double bucks program.

Danielle Cherry

As a nutritionist at Operation Food Search (OFS), I coordinate classes for people of all ages teaching them how to cook healthy and affordable meals in the Cooking Matters Program. Operation Food Search is a leader in hunger relief, nutrition education, and advocacy serving the Greater St. Louis region and feeding more than 200,000 people each month through a network of 330 community partners. The organization rescues unsaleable yet safe and nutritious food, reducing the amount going to the landfills, to feed local people at no charge who struggle with hunger and food insecurity. One-third of these individuals are children. With a goal to end childhood hunger, OFS partners with Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry for programs including Cooking Matters, Cooking Matters at the Store, Operation Backpack, SNAP Outreach and Summer/After School Meals that empower families and help children access the food they need.

One goal of OFS is to approach health in a holistic way, with an emphasis on taking care of the whole body. Unhealthy habits not related to food are just as important. A great of example of this is smoking and the damages cigarettes can do to the body. When an individual decides to quit smoking, within two days the taste and smell of foods is enhanced; breathing becomes easier in three days; and, after 1 year, the risk of heart disease is cut in half.

One aspect that may come as a surprise to many after quitting smoking is gaining weight. Nicotine causes appetite suppression and an increase in metabolism. According to a study published in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics ex-smokers were shown to gain on average about 10 pounds after kicking the habit. The study listed the gain in weight can come from metabolism returning to a healthy level.

It is important when making the decision to quit smoking to take dietary habits into

Lisa Hannibal with Cascade Farms talks to Renee and Marcus McMiller at the Ferguson Farmer’s Market on August 8 about how to grow their own tomatoes.

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Briefs

DASH blood pressure diet improves gout

The DASH diet was designed decades ago to reduce blood pressure, appears to significantly lower uric acid, the cause of gout. DASH, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy, and low in sodium, fats and saturated fats. In a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins and Harvard, they found the effect was so strong in some participants that it was nearly comparable to that achieved with drugs specifically prescribed to treat gout.

The DASH Diet

• More fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy

• More whole-grain foods, fish, poultry and nuts

• Less foods that are high in fats and cholesterol

• Limit sodium, sweets, sugary drink and red meats

Consuming a lot of red meat and alcohol have long been associated with gout, a disease marked by high levels of uric acid in the blood and whose causes remain somewhat of an enigma despite centuries of investigation. The Hopkins researchers noted that while symptoms of gout outbreaks – severe inflammation and sharp pain in the joints, particularly the base of the big toe – have been linked to elevated uric acid, it’s been unclear exactly what type of diet might lower uric acid and decrease the risk of flare-ups. The findings – derived from a randomized clinical trial of over 400 participants – could offer an effective, safe and sustainable dietary approach to lower uric acid and possibly prevent gout flare-ups in those with mild to moderate disease and who

You may significantly improve health by replacing one sugary drink with water H

can’t or don’t want to take gout drugs.

“Results of this trial are good news to patients with high blood levels of uric acid or those at risk for gout. A dietary approach to prevent gout should be considered first line therapy,” ,” said senior author Edgar R. Miller III, M.D. Ph.D., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “This study suggests that standard dietary advice for uric acid reduction which is to reduce alcohol and protein intake, should now include advice to adopt the DASH diet.”

Gout affects 8.3 million people in the United States, costing the U.S. health care system about $7.7 billion, the researchers said.

Sitting too much increases risks to heart

Even people who exercise regularly could be at increased risk for heart disease and stroke if they spend lots of time sitting, according to a science advisory from the American Heart Association.

“We spend a lot more time sitting behind computers than we used to. Movement is being engineered out of our lives, and the best advice is that we need to sit less and move more,” said Deborah Rohm Young, Ph.D., chair of the panel that wrote the new advisory published in the

DOCTOR

Continued from A12

consideration. Adopting a healthy lifestyle can slow down and even prevent weight gain both after quitting smoking and later in life.

Here are some tips to prevent weight gain:

American Heart Association journal Circulation. “If you’re already physically active, that’s the most important thing. But it’s good to take breaks from sedentary time, too,” Young said.

“Instead of powering through your work from the minute you get into the office until lunch break, consider walking around the office a couple of times.”

The statement said evidence suggests too much sedentary time increases the risk of cardiovascular disease,

diabetes and death. Sedentary time is increasing, with U.S. adults now spending an estimated six to eight hours a day engaged in sedentary behavior, which includes sitting, driving, reading, TV viewing, screen time and computer use, according to the advisory.

Thirty minutes or so of moderate to vigorous exercise each day is recommended to meet the AHA’s weekly recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise.

improve

Beneits of H2O

If you think one little sugary soda won’t make a difference on your waistline? Think again.

Replacing just one calorie-laden drink with water can reduce body weight and improve overall health, according to a Virginia Tech researcher.

“Regardless of how many servings of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume, replacing even just one serving can be of benefit,” said Kiyah J. Duffey, an adjunct faculty member of human nutrition, foods, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and independent nutrition consultant.

Additional daily calories from sugary beverages like soda, energy drinks, and sweetened coffee can increase risk of weight gain and obesity, as well as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The findings by Duffy and co-author Jennifer Poti, assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North

FOOD

Continued from A12

said. “Once we get it implemented there, there’s about four other stores we’re going to expand to.”

Carolina at Chapel Hill, were published recently in Nutrients.

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that no more than 10 percent of daily calories come

n The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that no more than 10 percent of daily calories come from added sugar.

from added sugar and that calorie-free drinks, particularly water, should be favored.

“We found that among U.S. adults who consume one serving of sugar-sweetened beverages per day, replacing that drink with water lowered the percent of calories coming from drinks from 17 to 11 percent,” Duffey said.

“Even those who consumed

household receiving $4 a day to eat on,” Campbell said. She learned out about the Double Up Food Bucks program at the Schlafly Farmer’s Market in Maplewood.

more sugary drinks per day could still benefit from water replacement, dropping the amount of calories coming from beverages to less than 25 percent of their daily caloric intake.”

Higher calorie drinks, such as sweetened soda and highfat milk, have been associated with diets rich in red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, and starch, according to a 2015 review study by Duffey and researchers, lower-calorie drinks, such as water and unsweetened coffee and tea, were associated with alternative diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and poultry.

Diet drinks are also healthier alternatives to sugary drinks, explained Duffey, but other research has shown that people who drink water over low-calorie alternatives still tend to eat more fruits and vegetables, have lowered blood sugar, and are better hydrated.

farmer’s markets and grocery stores across Kansas and Missouri, and they want to keep it going beyond the three-year grant and expanding the program.

1. Before quitting, start a food diary to track meals and snacks consumed daily, which will help pinpoint areas to improve in the diet.

2. repare meals and snacks ahead of time to help make healthier choices and decrease choosing less nutritious foods.

3. Include an abundance of fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables in meals and snacks. Rinsing canned produce can decrease added sugars and salts by 40 percent.

4. Focus on exercise, which is important to help

maintain a healthy weight and can decrease stress from a dramatic lifestyle change. Current recommendations for adults include exercising for 150 minutes per week, which can be achieved in 30-minute intervals or in shorter segments.

Danielle Cherry is a nutritionist and cooking Matters Program coordinator at Operation Food Search. You may contact her at Danielle.Cherry@ OperationFoodSearch.org

Farmer’s markets participating in Double Up Food Bucks are located in Ferguson, two in St. Louis – North City and Tower Grove; Webster Groves, Salem and DeSoto, Missouri. Brittany Tru Campbell, of EarthDance Organic Farm School, is also a midwife who knows the importance of good nutrition. She also buys local produce for her family through the double bucks program. She explained that even with the SNAP program, dollars must be stretched to make it work.

“The federal guidelines are around each person in the

“So I would go there – I would get my poultry, my eggs, my vegetables – everything, and my bread, and prior to that, I would buy my food at the grocery store and a lot of it was not fresh … it was being shipped from all around the country,” Campbell said. “So not only was I able to get double the amount from the benefits that I got – I also felt better internally about supporting local farmers –being able to talk to them about where the food comes from. And I also felt like a better mom that I was able to feed my children food that came from the local area.”

DeSmet said the Double Up Food Bucks program includes

“We expect right now, there are 42 farmers markets in the program in Kansas and Missouri and there will be at least 68 by the end of the program,” he said. “And up to 117 grocery stores in the Kansas City – St. Louis area will be running the program, but it’s going to take us a little while to get there.”

A little while is just fine, since doubling your money on healthy food is always in season.

For more information on participating groceries and farmer’s market locations, visit www. DoubleUpHeartland.org.

Choosing drinks with fewer calories can help reduce excess weight and

dietary choices.

Healthy Kids Kids

Healthcare Careers

Color Your World!

Nutrition Challenge:

Think about how colorful your meals are. Is your plate usually filled with a lot of white and brown (e.g., breaded chicken strips, mashed potatoes and a roll)? Or do you have a rainbow of fresh, healthy vegetables?

How Healthy Are Your Lungs?

red salmon, roasted red peppers and steamed green broccoli. In general, the more colorful… the better it is for you!

Imagine a plate with grilled

One way to find out how “in shape” you are —is to see how long you can run (or hop, or skip) until you run out of breath. If it only takes a couple of minutes before you can’t breathe well, then you probably need to make some healthy positive

Write It Out!

Mental Health Tip — If you don’t already have one, start a journal today. This is a great way to express your feelings and think about ways to change/improve your life. You can use any kind of notebook or a computer. But journaling does not mean “blogging.” Always be cautious about revealing personal information online.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, NH 4

Try this

Make it a goal to have at least three different colors on your plate each meal.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 2, NH 5

changes in your daily activities.

Exercising regularly strengthens the muscles around your lungs. This allows you to run and play longer before you feel tired or winded and will help you feel better too!

Discuss with your classmates different kinds of activities you could do every day.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, NH 1, NH 5

Directions: Using

Classie A. Poe Medical Assistant

Where do you work? I work at Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Alton Senior High School in Alton, Illinois. I earned a medical assistant degree from Everest College and a CNA from Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois.

What does a medical assistant do? Some of the things I do for patients include taking their vitals (weight, temperature and blood pressure) and recording them in their patient charts, testing their eyesight and hearing, administering their shots, and reporting any issues they’re having to the doctor. I’m also the Community Coordinator for State Street Center, so I participate in community events to promote a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I’m a kind, compassionate person, and I love to give back to my community.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of my job is talking to the patients to help them feel comfortable during their examination.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

New University City Superintendent, Dr. Sharonica HardinBartley, gives a STEM lesson in math to 4th grader

Myles Dunkin and 3rd grader

Kohlia Dunkin, at the Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School in the School District of University City. Photo by Wiley Price/St. Louis American

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT SCIENCE STARS

African-American Inventor and Entrepreneur Madame C.J. Walker

SCIENCE CORNER

Did you know oils are very beneficial for your hair? There are so many types of oils, how do you know which one is best for you? In this section, you will read about six types of oil used to treat hair.

q ARGON OIL: Contains protein, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. It makes your hair softer, thicker, and shinier. It is ideal for people with dry, coarse, frizzy, or damaged hair.

w COCONUT OIL: Contains protein, vitamin E, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. It makes your

Hair Oils

hair stronger, shinier, and thicker. This oil is helpful for people who have hair that tends to break easily. However, it can be used on all hair types.

e OLIVE OIL: Contains vitamins A and E, and antioxidants. It makes your hair stronger and shinier. It is helpful for hair that has been damaged from chemicals and styling. It can be used on all hair types, even fine hair.

r CASTOR OIL: Contains vitamin E and essential fatty acids. It can help your hair grow more quickly and reverse hair loss. Because of the amount of moisture in castor oil, it is only suited for dry or coarse hair.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Have you heard the expression, “Water and oil don’t mix”? The expression is literally true, because these substances have different densities. When an object is more dense, it will sink to the bottom of the container. In this experiment, you will observe how freezing these substances changes their properties.

Materials Needed:

• Clear Plastic Container

• Water • Oil • Freezer

Procedure:

q What is your prediction? What will happen when you combine equal parts oil and water in a clear container?

t MACADAMIA OIL: Contains antioxidants. It can help restore dry, damaged hair. It can heal damage from heat and chemicals. Macadamia oil contains a lot of moisture, so it is only suited for dry, damaged, or coarse hair.

y JOJOBA OIL: Contains iodine, zinc, and vitamins B and E. It can help detangle frizzy hair and it helps with dandruff and dry scalp. It is best suited for dry and damaged hair.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details. I can make text-to-text and text-to-self connections.

OIL AND WATER

Will these results change or stay the same when you freeze the container? Why?

w Add equal parts oil and water to the container. Wait 10-15 minutes and observe. What happens? Which substance is on top at this time? Why?

e Place the container in the freezer for 2-3 hours. Observe. Which substance is on top? Why? Is this the same as your prediction? What conclusion can you draw about how the substances change density when frozen?

Learning Standards: I can follow a sequential procedure. I can create and test my prediction. I can make observations and draw conclusions.

Problem Hair

Use your problem solving skills to answer the following questions about hair.

z Sarah donates 8 inches of hair to make wigs for children with cancer. She still has 5 inches of hair left. How many inches of hair did she have before she made the donation?

x In the 5th grade classroom, there are 8 students with brown hair, 10 students with black hair, 3 students with red hair, and 2 students with blonde hair. What percent of students have red hair?

c If your shampoo costs $6.95 and lasts two

DID YOU KNOW?

weeks, how much does each day’s worth of shampoo cost? ______ How much would it cost to buy shampoo for the month? ______

v Anthony went to the salon to get his hair braided. If he was there 90 minutes and finished his appointment at 3:30 p.m., what time did his appointment begin? ______

b If you spend 10 minutes per day fixing your hair, how many minutes do you spend fixing your hair per week? ______

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in the body (bone marrow is the fastest growing). 90% of the hair in your scalp is growing, while 10% is resting.

Madame C.J. Walker was born in Louisiana in 1867. Her parents were former slaves and very poor. They both passed away before Walker was 7 years old. Walker worked with her older sister in a cotton field in Mississippi until she got married at the age of 14. In 1885, she had a daughter and her husband died two years later. Walker and her daughter then moved to St. Louis to live with her older brothers, who were barbers. Walker earned money to support herself and educate her daughter, by working as a laundrywoman. She became involved in the National Association of Colored Women.

Walker had a scalp condition that caused her to lose her hair. She was very embarrassed by this and tried a variety of methods to restore her hair growth. Many of these home remedies used natural oils. Walker had good success with hair products created by the African-American entrepreneur Annie Malone, so she began to sell those products. She then moved to Denver where she remarried.

Walker experimented and developed her own line of products to treat the scalp and promote hair growth. She called this product the Wonderful Hair Grower. She traveled door-to-door to sell her products. In 1908, she opened a college to train others. Her system became known as the Walker System and her company grew to include over 3,000 employees.

Walker is quoted as saying, “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.”

Learning Standards: about a person who has made contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

MAP CORNER

Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.

Activity One — Capital Critique: words beginning with capital letters in the newspaper. Discuss why each word begins with a capital letter. Then identify the words that are proper nouns. Write them in a chart labeled person, place, or thing.

Activity Two — Types of News: Use the front section of the newspaper to evaluate the type of news stories represented: local, state, or national. Create a bar graph that displays the coverage that each type of news story receives.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can identify capitalization rules. I can evaluate types of news stories.

Business

Charmaine Chapman kicks off campaign

On Thursday, August 18, 250 business and community leaders gathered at Lumen for the African American Leadership – Charmaine Chapman Society’s United Way Campaign Kickoff. Co-Chairs Ann Marr and Keith Williamson led the evening by showcasing the various efforts of United Way to champion positive change in our region, followed by surprise guest, Dave Steward of World Wide Technology. This event was made possible thanks to sponsors Centene Corporation and World

Wide Technology. Left to right: Charles Stewart;

chairman and

Marr, World Wide Technology

Cenia Bosman; Orvin Kimbrough, president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Free training for truck drivers

Info session at SLCC-Forest Park August 30-31

On August 30-31, St. Louis Community College will kick off a new partnership with Dart Transit – one of the largest privately owned trucking companies in America, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota. On those days, Dart representatives and college staff will be on hand at the St. Louis Community College Forest Park campus to answer questions about the industry and Dart, as well as qualifications. Truck driver classes start on October 10 and November 14. Due to grant funding, there will be no cost for training for qualified candidates.

n Due to grant funding, there will be no cost for training for qualified candidates.

Students will undertake five weeks of instruction in the classroom, on the driving simulator, on the driving range, and over 45 hours of behind-the-wheel driving time on area roads, with the goal of passing their Class-A

Commercial Driver’s License examinations. The information session will be held on the St. Louis Community College Forest Park Campus 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30-7:30 p.m. each day on Tuesday, August 30 and Wednesday, August 3. Register by sending an email indicating your attendance to: Kchambers@stlcc.edu

For more information about Class-A Commercial Driver’s License training, call Diane Devine at 314-644-9221 or Bahi Talundzic at 314-644-9786.

Inner City Capital Connections comes to STL

August 31 deadline to apply for help growing your company

By Mike Hart Guest columnist

In many ways, St. Louis is at a crossroads. Our community faces a number of challenges. We see them in the news every day. The key to whether we succeed in overcoming these challenges is in how we respond. Will we wait for someone else to take action? Or will we make a difference ourselves?

Earlier this year, Regions Bank and business and community partners throughout the area came together to discuss some of the core issues affecting our community. Those issues are well

Mike Hart

known. Poverty. Housing. Jobs. Education. Access to opportunities. The need for local businesses to succeed. And many, many more. Let’s be honest. Each of these issues is too big for any one person or organization to solve. But when we unite, we can make a real difference. And when you address the root causes of our challenges, you can have a greater impact on people and communities throughout the area.

As businesspeople, we have the skills and experience to help in terms of economics, job creation, community investments, supporting small businesses and providing financial education. That’s why teams from Regions and the St. Louis Regional Chamber decided to work together to bring a unique opportunity to St. Louis for the first time. That opportunity is called Inner City Capital Connections, or “ICCC.” It’s a long name. But, in short, ICCC represents a breakthrough for many entrepreneurs and business owners

People On The Move

Addington Stewart was elected president of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters. He is a life member of the association and its South Central Regional director since 2008. A 35-year retired veteran of the St. Louis Fire Department, he is an instructor at the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute. The membership of the association is comprised of 90 chapters and represents over 5,100 fire service personnel and lifetime members.

Lakesha Butler was installed as president-elect of the National Pharmaceutical Association. She is clinical associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy. The association’s mission is to represent the views and ideal of minority pharmacists on critical issues affecting health care and pharmacy, as well as advancing the standards of pharmaceutical care among all practitioners.

Reginald Dickson was chosen for the Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award. He is chairman of the board and executive vice president of BYW Investment Advisors, a multicultural, minoritycontrolled firm, as well as a member of the Normandy Joint Executive Governing Board and the Board of Regents at Harris-Stowe State University.

Jabreia Taylor was named one of the 2016 HBCU AllStars by the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A St. Louis native, she studies at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. The White House chose 73 students from 63 HBCUs for their accomplishments in academics, leadership and civic engagement. They will serve as ambassadors by providing outreach opportunities.

Warner Baxter is the new board chair of the St. Louis Regional Chamber. He is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Corporation. He succeeds Suzanne Sitherwood, chief executive officer and president of Spire (formerly Laclede Gas). He will continue to push forward the Chamber’s One Plan – to make St. Louis one of the top 10 U.S. regions in prosperity through greater educational attainment, economic inclusion, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Joanne Toni Burrow was named executive director of the Ferguson-Dellwood Community Resource Center, which aims to connect individuals and families, with discretion and respect, to multiple resource providers to ensure a holistic approach in meeting needs, including family counseling, education, financial stability, adequate and safe housing, and employment. A graduate of Fontbonne University, she lives in Ferguson.

On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

Addington Stewart

Reginald Dickson

Jabreia Taylor

Warner Baxter

Lakesha Butler

Joanne Toni Burrow

Photo courtesy of United Way

Dave Steward,

co-founder of World Wide Technology; Ann

and 2016 United Way of Greater St. Louis Charmaine Chapman Society campaign co-chair; Keith Williamson, Centene Corporation and 2016 United Way of Greater St. Louis Charmaine Chapman Society campaign co-chair;

By Nathaniel Sillin

If having a dedicated professional to help you manage your money sounds appealing, consider looking into a financial advisor –regardless of your income.

There’s no substitute for financial education but an expert advisor can help you with your financial goals.

There are many kinds of advisors who are trained to help you with many different aspects of your finances. Here are some of the most common ones:

Financial counselors work with you collaboratively to help you identify goals and potential solutions to your personal financial problems. They can help you understand complex monetary issues and improve how you manage your money.

Consider finding a certified financial or debt counselor to fit your needs through nonprofit organizations like the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE), or National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).

Investment advisors can provide a wide range of services, whether it’s helping you plan for your retirement or advising you on how to manage your investments. You pay for their services with either a flat salary or a percentage (typically 1 percent) of the assets they manage for you. To learn about the basics of investing and investment products, visit the U.S. Securities and

How to find the right financial advisor for you

Exchange Commission (SEC) Investor website

Broker-dealers or stockbrokers do many of the same things that investment advisors do, but it’s important to note that their job is to persuade clients to buy or sell financial products such as bonds, stocks and ETFs.

Unlike investment advisors, they’re paid on commission – the more transactions you make, the higher their pay. For detailed resources and advice for investors, visit the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) website.

Tax advisors or tax preparers are specially trained in tax law and work to make sure everything goes smoothly when tax season rolls around.

They ensure you pay your fair share, but also that you’re not paying more than you need to. They are typically paid by the hour or for a flat fee depending on the specific service. The Internal Revenue Service government website offers in-depth advice for choosing a tax advisor and provides forums to file complaints or reports if any issues arise.

Once you’ve determined the kind of financial advisor you would benefit most from, make sure you find the right one by considering these seven tips:

1. Check their credentials. When your money is at stake, it’s crucial to make sure your advisor is accredited and legitimate. If you’re considering a potential stockbroker, FINRA has a search tool that allows you to see a broker’s employment

history, licenses, complaints against them, and more. You can also search for information on investment advisors on the SEC government website.

2. Understand the differences between advisors held to a fiduciary or a suitability standard.

Investment advisors held to a fiduciary standard are legally obligated to act in your best interests. Advisors who are registered to provide services under a suitability standard are obligated to choose investments that are suitable for you. However, this doesn’t mean that advisors who work under a suitability standard are not good options – regardless of which standard they’re held to, advisors with integrity work for your best interests.

3. Consider how they make their money. Depending on the type of advisor, the way they get paid can be critical to consider. For example, investment advisors that are paid at a flat rate are considered preferable to those paid on commission, since advisors paid on commission may have an incentive to advise you to invest in certain companies, even if it’s against

your best financial interest. Fee-only advisors are often held to a fiduciary standard, while commission-based advisors usually work under a suitability standard.

4. Get to know your potential advisor. Beyond competence and integrity, make sure you get along with your financial advisor. Personal finance can be a sensitive and stressful topic, so you want to be able to discuss issues openly with your advisor as they arise.

5. Ensure advisors operate with transparency. Though ideally you will never need to file a complaint, it’s important to ensure the advisors you work with make it easy to do so. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s website allows customers who haven’t been able to file a complaint with a company

to do so directly in the CFPB complaint database. The database is open to the public, so you can also search for companies you’re interested in working with and check the credibility and reliability of their services.

6. See if you fit the profile of a “typical client.” If you choose to hire an investment advisor that typically works with wealth management clients and you’re asking them to manage a much smaller amount of money, he or she might not be the advisor for you. Ask your potential advisor about the kinds of clients he or she manages money for and whether he or she has experience managing money for someone with similar assets to you.

7. Decide what their qualifications should be based on your needs. Depending on what you want your advisor to accomplish for you, decide what you think his or her qualifications should be and see if they match up to your expectations. It’s important to check certifications – for example, Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) must pass a test covering financial categories from retirement to taxes. For more information on financial certifications, check out FINRA’s complete list and explanations of professional designations. Also, search for advisors who have years of experience working with clients.

Bottom line: While there are many qualified financial advisors out there, it’s important to find the right match for you. Regardless of your income, a good financial advisor can make your life easier and suggest ways to help you grow your money. Hiring one that is not a good fit could complicate your financial situation, so research your options before making a commitment.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Monsanto awards $450K to graduate students

Next application window opens next April

American staff

Monsanto will award scholarships totaling $250,000 to 10 students this fall through the Monsanto Graduate Student Scholarship program. Additionally, through its Monsanto STEM Fellowship program, the company will award scholarships totaling $200,000 to four doctoral candidates.

One student from each scholarship category is studying at Saint Louis University. Pruthi Protha who is studying Bioinformatics & Computational Biology at SLU, will receive a $25,000 scholarship from Monsanto. Elizabeth Walker, a doctoral candidate in Biology at SLU, will receive a $50,000 fellowship.

The other 2016 Monsanto Graduate Student Scholarship recipients are: Condrad Brendel, Iowa State University, Ag/Biosystems Engineering; Edeoba Edobor, Texas A&M University, Agribusiness Management; Jonathan Galsurkar, Columbia University, Data Science; Amonjot Kaur, University of California-Davis, Biotechnology; Naeem Khan, George Mason University,

Data Analytics Engineering; Meredith Myers, Ohio State University, Food Science; Xavier Price, Florida A&M University, Agribusiness; Kayley Wall, Texas A&M University, Animal Science; and Maria Williams, Prairie

n “Many high achievers from underrepresented communities are unaware that their career paths could include jobs in agriculture or related industries.”

– Steve Mizell, Monsanto

View A&M University, Chemical Engineering.

The other Monsanto STEM Fellowship recipients are: Heather Pasley, Purdue University, Ecological Science & Engineering; Santiago Tamagno, Kansas State University, Agronomy; Stephanie Zullo, University of California-Davis, Horticulture & Agronomy. Monsanto awards these scholarships and fellowships to encourage the pursuit of

careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and agriculture. Each year, approximately 25,000 agricultural jobs go unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants, according to Monsanto. Modern agriculture encompasses more than farming – and represents a convergence that demands a variety of skills, including STEM.

“Many graduate and undergraduate students, especially high achievers from underrepresented communities, are unaware that their career paths could include jobs in agriculture or related industries,” said Steve Mizell, executive vice president of human resources for Monsanto. “These scholarships reinforce Monsanto’s commitment to building an innovative workforce that is able to meet the demands of feeding a growing global population of nine billion people by 2050.” Applications for the Monsanto Graduate Student Scholarship Program and the Monsanto STEM Fellowship are accepted from April 1 to May 1. For more information, visit the Student Scholarships section at www.monsanto.com.

n “This is it. This is the end for me.”

– Carmelo Anthony, after winning his third Olympic gold medal with the USA men’s basketball team

Big first games

Top individual performances from Week 1

Here are some of the top individual performances from Week 1 of the prep football season:

Quarterback Aqeel Glass of Lutheran North passed for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 52-0 victory over Clayton. Teammate Jordan Sommerville had six receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Tony Burks of St. Mary’s had 16 receptions for 324 yards and one touchdown in the Dragons’ 49-47 loss to Westminster Christian.

Ladue Quarterback Jordan Jackson passed for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ 24-21 victory over Fort Zumwalt North.

Quarterback Tionne Harris passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns; rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown in the Golden Griffins’ 30-20 victory at Pattonville.

Quarterback Torre Dyson of Soldan passed for 419 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 40-19 loss to Cardinal Ritter.

n Quarterback

Aqeel Glass of Lutheran North passed for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 52-0 victory over

Running back Ben Watson of Fort Zumwalt East rushed for 269 yards and five touchdowns, rushed for 105 yards in the Lions’ 56-48 victory over Howell Central.

Running back

Justin Williams rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the Cadets’ 48-0 victory over Miller Career Academy. Donovan Daniels of Webster Groves rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns and also had an interception in the Statesmen’s 42-6 victory over Hazelwood West.

Top Games of the week

Ladue (1-0) at SLUH (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

– Michael Corleone, Godfather III

I can’t seem to shake the sound of Michael Corleone’s (played by Al Pacino) iconic words from the Godfather III film. As my faithful readers know, I took the departure of the professional football team formerly in St. Louis pretty hard. No, I didn’t go find a dark corner in the basement and cry away my frustrations. It was more like a ‘you’re dead to me’ moment, not for just the team, but for the entire league. I passed on last year’s Super Bowl. I have managed to avoid most NFL-related stories. I also vowed to find a better way to spend my Sundays than being parked on the couch watching football for the entire day. Then came that fateful email. The commissioner for the fantasy football league that I have played in for over a decade had set the draft date for the 2016 season. Fantasy football is about to begin. Talk about a conundrum. Just when I was prepared to go all-in

With Earl Austin Jr.

Earl Austin Jr.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Carolina’s Cam Newton and Seattle’s Russell Wilson are the top two quarterbacks on the 2016 draft boards of many fantasy football experts.

Soldan Tigers Arnold Adams (7) can’t hold on to the ball after Cardinal Ritter Lion’s Donnell Sharp (5) strips him of it during Saturday’s game at Soldan. There Lion’s would defeat the Tigers 40-19.

Photo by Wiley Price

Last week, I commented on U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas’ unfair criticism and the classless post-loss comments of U.S. women’s soccer goalie

Hope Solo Little did we know that swimmer Ryan Lochte would embarrass America even worse than Solo or Douglas’ detractors.

Lochte and three swim team members drunkenly broke a bathroom door at a Rio de Janeiro gasoline station (with state-of-the-art video surveillance) and found themselves confronted by a security guard.

They coughed up some cash on the spot. Call it a shakedown or their only chance to avoid jail, but do not call it armed robbery –which is what Lochte did. And he said the robbers were dressed like police. And he said a gun was pressed against his head. And he said they took cash, but left them their cellphones and passports.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Ryan Lochte swims in pool of white privilege

behavior and flat-out lies as his unreal tale began unraveling. On Monday, Billy Bush of the TODAY show still questioned the Rio police version of the story while on XM Radio. He said if the swimmers were treated the same way in America for vandalism and drunken behavior, we would be outraged.

Hey, Billy. If affluent white guys were treated this way in America, there probably would be outrage. It’s called “white privilege.” If four black guys, affluent or not, were in the same situation, they’d end up in jail or worse. It’s called “Livin’ in America.” Bush said last Friday on TODAY that Lochte only “embellished” the story and defended Lochte. The usually jovial Al Roker had heard enough and called Bush out when a heated argument ensued.

n Lochte will pay a price, thank goodness. He lost all four of his major sponsors on Monday, including Speedo USA and Ralph Lauren Corp.

All the statements were lies –and he left his teammates in Rio to deal with the fallout after he fled back to America and they were detained.

Not shockingly, some members of the media were still defending Lochte’s boorish

“He didn’t embellish. He lied,” Roker said with a raised voice.

Lochte will pay a price, thank goodness. He lost all four of his major sponsors on Monday, including Speedo USA and Ralph Lauren Corp. Hopefully, major endorsement deals are in the works for four-time gold medal

sponsors

Michael Phelps American boxer Claressa Shields should hopefully cash in too. She defended her London 2012 gold in the women’s middleweight division by beating Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands. She is the first U.S. boxer, male or female, to win two Olympic gold medals.

As for Douglas, she will serve as a judge for the 2017 Miss America competition.

“Miss America has been such an amazing event for so many years, and I am excited to have the opportunity to judge the competition this year,” Douglas, 20, said in a statement to E! News. “The contestants are a great example of strong women across America, and I especially look forward to hearing the platforms that each of them will represent!”

HBCU athletes excel in Rio

Jeff Henderson trailed Luvo Manyonga of South

Africa as he prepared for his final attempt in the Rio Olympics long jump.

The Stillman College product knew the gold medal was on the line – and he sailed 27 feet and 5.5 inches to top Manyonga by a centimeter.

“I knew it. I knew it was far: ‘Okay, this is over.’ I knew I won the competition after that jump,” he said.

Henderson’s mother is battling Alzheimer’s disease.

“When I place that medal in her hands, I’ll be crying,” Henderson said.

“She’s still fighting; she’s still living. That’s the only thing that matters right now.”

Hampton’s Francena McCorory won her second Olympic gold medal in the 4x400 meter relay – although she was not a member of the four-member team that won the final race.

She earned Olympic gold by running the pressurepacked qualifying heat the night before the final medal race.

Allyson Felix anchored the team of Courtney Okolo,

Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis to the gold-medal six-peat in 3:19.06. Jamaica finished second in 3:20.34 for the silver medal Felix and McCorory also competed on the 2012 Olympic relay team that won gold in London. McCorory said on Instagram, “I came, I saw, I conquered! Two-time Olympic GOLD medalist! I’m so BLESSED! #2012 #2016…” Jackson State graduate and two-time Olympian Michael Tinsley qualified in the 400meter hurdles. While he did not win a medal, he won a Silver in London in 2012. Christina Epps, a Coppin State graduate, qualified for her first Olympics with a triple jump of 46 feet, 6 inches at the U.S. Track and Field trials. She did not win a medal in Rio.

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

winner gymnast Simone Biles the star of the Rio Olympics.

Sorry,

Alvin A. Reid

Ryan Lochte will pay a heavy price for his boorish behavior in Rio. He lost all four of his major

on Monday, including Speedo USA and Ralph Lauren Corp.

Uninished business on the East Side

The football programs at Cahokia, East St. Louis, and Althoff all have some unfinished business in 2016. All are hungry and have something to prove in the state of Illinois. Let’s start in Cahokia, where the Comanches have new life and are looking for newfound success under first-year head coach John Clay. Clay – a former first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders, and the right hand man for both of current Flyers coach Darren Sunkett’s state championships teams at East St. Louis and Riverview Gardens – is now the head coach at Cahokia.

n Jeff Thomas and Reyondous Estes are the most feared duo in the Metro East, and possibly the state.

After finishing 4-5 and missing the playoffs in 2015, John Clay has assembled one of the best coaching staffs in the Metro East. Joining Clay at Cahokia is former Flyer defensive coordinator Marion Stallings, who helped guide the Flyers to seven state

championships and three state runner-up finishes with head coaches Bob Shannon and Sunkett. Former Comanche standouts Byron Gettis and Orlando “Doc” Gooden have also joined Clay’s staff. Clay feels his team will be both fast and physical this season. Leading the way on defense will be All-South Seven Conference performer Nate Williams. In addition, Clay has one of the top freshmen in the Metro East who will start at linebacker in Darren “Tank” Perkins. Perkins has the quickness and footwork that will have college recruiters hanging out in Cahokia the next four years. The Comanches offense will be in good hands with senior quarterback Wayne Grant Jr. under center. Grant threw for 1,396 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cahokia has one of the best wide-outs in the South Seven in junior

from The eAST Side

With Maurice Scott

Demarion Hinkle. Hinkle caught 42 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns.

Cahokia opens its season on Friday against Highland.

ESL poised to shut up street patrol

Now on to 4901 State Street and the East St. Louis Flyers. Deemed the “City of Champions,” the Flyers’ season was cut short due to in 2015 due to the teacher’s strike.

Head coach Darren Sunkett has an overall record of 119-49 since taking over in 2001, including the state championship during the 200809 seasons. Most communities would be perfectly fine that winning percentage.

But in East St. Louis, it’s up for debate, having to live up to the standards of former head

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

field fantasy football teams this year. They will spend nearly $5 billion on fantasy football-related expenses (league fees, strategy guides, draft kits, etc.). The game’s extreme popularity has had a direct effect on the NFL’s surging popularity, as evidenced by the league’s RedZone channel. The channel was formed to show coverage of every single time a team moves within twenty yards of the end zone. Without fantasy football, the RedZone channel would not exist. As much as I’d like to punt fantasy football down the road, I just can’t bring myself to do it. Even with limited interest in watching the actual games, there’s still an allure to attempting to predict breakout performances each week. There’s a considerable joy in taking a flyer on a third-string running back in the 15th round and watching them emerge into a fantasy stud. On the flip side,

there’s considerable disappointment when six players drafted spend significant time on the IR and your team flops terribly at the bottom of the standings (my experience last season)

If you one of the 75 million players, preparing for a fantasy draft, here are a few tips to help get you atop your league leaderboard.

1. Be patient on drafting a QB, but pay attention to the run. While it’s true that monster years from guys like Tom

coaches Fred Cameron, Cornelius Perry and Bob Shannon. Deemed “Quarterfinal Sunkett” by many alumni and fans within the street patrol the Flyers seemed poised to shut up the street patrol in 2016 and make a run for an eight state title. The horses are certainly there in AllAmerican wide-out Jeff Thomas, who’s being recruited by every major college football program in the country, and Mizzou recruit Reyondous Estes at quarterback.

Estes and Thomas are the most feared duo in the Metro East, and possibly the state. Thomas, despite playing five games last season, has 75 catches and 25 touchdowns during that span. In addition, Estes had 20 touchdown passes his sophomore year. Both have been around for four years

Brady, Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson may have almost single-handedly led fantasy teams to championships over the past few years, it’s also true that guys like Blake Bortles Nick Foles and Kirk Cousins have taken turns as fantasy studs. While it’s OK to bet early on a bona fide stud, be mindful that you can still get high-producing QB anywhere from the 5th to the 8th round in most fantasy leagues. Just pay attention to the run on the quarterbacks when it happens because, much like the Bears, you don’t want to get stuck with Jay Cutler as your starting signal-caller.

2. Don’t wait on running backs!

Though there are more qual-

T

at the varsity level, so there leadership will be the key for East St. Louis this season.

On defense the Flyers will led by my cousin, two-time All-Southwestern Conference performer James Knight ( 6’2 220) at linebacker, along with Kenneth Dixon (6’1 210) and LaMontre “State Street” Harvey (6’3, 265) and Terez Lagrone (6’5 285), the nephew of former Billiken basketball player Tyrone Caswell.

The Flyers once again have one of the toughest schedules in the area opening at perennial Chicago power Providence Catholic Saturday night, and opening at home against Missouri state power CBC before Southwestern conference play.

Althoff has firepower returning

Belleville Althoff won 13-straight games and averaged over 44 points per game, but Ken Turner’s team ended the season on a sour note, losing 51-7 in the Class 4A title game to Chicago Phillips. The Crusaders have Cadillac

ity running backs now than in years past, it’s still not a terribly deep position. After the top 10 or 12 guys, the drop off in production is pretty steep. Most leagues require two running backs with other options for flex players. Make sure you get at least two quality running backs in the early rounds.

3. Pay close attention to injury history.

As I mentioned before, last season was ruined for me by an excessive amount of injuries. However, I took unnecessary risks on oft-injured guys like Percy Harvin, Desean Jackson and Justin Forsett Don’t get burned by fragile players. Move them far down on your draft board and save the risks for the later rounds.

firepower returning and are poised for another run to the title game. Leading the way for the Crusaders is WR/DB C.J. Coldon. One of the most gifted athletes in the Metro East, Colden will be a two-way All-State player at both the receiver and defensive-back positions. A stand-out guard on the state championship basketball team last season, Colden has college recruiters knocking down his door in both sports. Other top performers for Althoff include Saint Louis University basketball recruit Jordan Goodwin, Miami of Ohio recruit Jaylon Bester, big play WR/corner-back Edwyn Brown (6’5 210) defensive lineman Christian Wills, tackle Jordyn Slaughter, nose guard Devyn Nash, and All-State linebacker Bryson Strong. Althoff opens up Friday night against Southwestern conference member Collinsville, and then gets a rematch against Jefferson City Helias, whom the Crusaders beat last year in a 54-38 shootout.

4. Budget your funds wisely (auction drafts only). Watching fantasy players spend more than half their auction funds on a single player is usually the true sign of a sucker. Sure you may land Adrian Peterson or Todd Gurley but you won’t have enough virtual funds to land anybody else of note. Sit and watch as the draft ballers make it rain early in the draft, then assemble a deep and productive roster

he ST. LouiS AmericAn PreP AThLeTeS of The Week

Jared Phillips

Cardinal Ritter – Football

The 5’10” 175-pound junior enjoyed a dominating performance on defense and special teams in leading the Lions to a 40-19 victory over Soldan in the season opener.

On defense, Phillips had a total of 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. He also had three interceptions, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown. He also recorded one quarterback sack.

Phillips also had 220 yards on three returns, which including two kickoff returns of 82 and 78 yards for touchdowns.

Steve Webb

Westminster Christian – Football

The standout senior running back came up with a big performance in the Wildcats’ 49-47 victory over visiting St. Mary’s last Saturday afternoon. Webb rushed for 207 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns. He also came up with a big interception in the closing minutes to preserve the Wildcats’ victory.

As a junior, Webb rushed for 1,874 yards and scored 25 touchdowns to lead Westminster to a berth in the Class 4 state semifinals. He is the school’s career rushing leader.

Eureka (1-0) at Francis Howell (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

Hazelwood East (1-0) at Lafayette (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

Chaminade (1-0) at Belleville East (0-0), Friday, 7 p.m. Kirkwood (0-1) at Vianney (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. Parkway North (1-0) at Marquette (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. East St. Louis (0-0)

Maurice Scott

The Dallas Cowboys’ rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is expected to be one of the top performing running backs in fantasy football this season. Can he carry your team to a league title?

INNER CITY

continued from page B1

in urban or economically underserved communities.

Throughout our region, from main street businesses to tech companies, entrepreneurs and home-grown businesses offer critical solutions to our challenges. ICCC provides executive-level business education designed to help these entrepreneurs and business owners grow their companies, serve more customers and, in turn, create more jobs.

And, as the name suggests, the program can ultimately connect local businesses with capital – capital that serves as an investment, creating more business opportunities and more wealth in underserved areas. This is crucial to helping solve the challenges of poverty, unemployment and more.

Educators from Harvard Business School, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Washington University will take part in ICCC. Financing professionals will participate. Local business experts will be there.

Together, they will teach business owners how to navigate the challenges they face, how to grow their companies responsibly and how to reach their long-term goals. This program levels the playing field. It gives businesses access and opportunities that, otherwise,

they might not have. And it’s free. Due to financial support from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Regions Bank, ICCC is offered to local business owners at no cost. The reason is simple. As businesses in our area succeed, St. Louis succeeds. When businesses grow and hire more people, they’re able to give back to the community. They can contribute more to the

n The program can ultimately connect local businesses with capital – capital that serves as an investment, creating more business opportunities and more wealth in underserved areas.

quality of life. They provide hope and opportunities for families through new jobs. ICCC has made a tremendous difference in cities across the country. Now it’s St. Louis’ turn.

Businesses that apply and are accepted into the program will receive one-on-one coaching and intense education sessions during an all-day business seminar coming up September 29 at Washington University’s Cortex Innovation Community. Beyond the seminar, webinars, follow-up opportunities and a national ICCC program are available to

eligible companies.

If you’re a business owner in St. Louis or the surrounding area, there is still time to apply, but that time is running out.

Yes, St. Louis faces many challenges. But what inspires us is how we see people responding to – and overcoming – those challenges.

Bringing ICCC to St. Louis is one way the business community can help. For entrepreneurs and business owners, participating in ICCC is one way you can help – by empowering yourself, and your business, with skills and strategies to help you reach the next level.

We invite you to join us as we take this crucial step toward strengthening our community. Apply now. Encourage others to do the same. And remember – as you succeed, St. Louis succeeds.

You have until August 31 to apply. ICCC has already received dozens of applications, so we encourage you to apply now while there’s still room. You can visit the ICCC website at www.iccapitalconnections. org to learn more about the program, which companies can qualify and how to apply.

Mike Hart is Midwest Area President for Regions Bank, where he oversees banking operations throughout Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Western Kentucky. He serves on the boards of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, the Regional Business Council, St. Louis United Way and Operation HOPE Midwest.

Museum for Miles

Early home of Davis in ESL to house educational center

By Willis Ryder Arnold Of St. Louis Public Radio

Inside the shell of a modest house in East St. Louis, there is nothing to let a visitor know that one of the world’s most noted musicians once called it home.

The interior of the one-story structure is skeletal – all bare studs and dust. But when Lauren Parks and Jasper Gery Pearson are inside, they can see the space where a young Miles Davis got his start in life, years before creating the music that would make him one of the biggest names in jazz. They hope to turn the trumpeter’s childhood home into a museum and educational space that will inspire children.

n “We’re looking to give our kids a little sense of home. That’s why we called this place HOME, House of Miles East St. Louis.”

– Jasper Gery Pearson

Outside, the site is a hive of activity as contractors remove trash, staple shingles to the roof and plan further cleanup. Parks and Pearson decided five years ago to turn the structure into a museum and educational center. If all goes as they plan, it will open this fall.

“You know, I don’t see the concrete aspect of this structure,” Parks said. “I see children. I hear music. I see bustling of children and learning and excitement.”

The project began in 2011 but the real work began in earnest less than a month ago. That’s when contractors began gutting the structure in order to strip it down to bare bones before rebuilding it in the style of the 1920s, when Davis lived in East St. Louis. Although the structure is stripped to the studs, Parks and Pearson have great plans for the future.

First, they intend the structure to be a repository of artifacts from Davis’ time in the city, from old shoes to objects that have yet to be determined.

Second, they want the completed museum

“Hands of Stone,” directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz and co-starring Usher Raymond, Edgar Ramirez and Robert DeNiro, opens in theatres nationwide on Friday August 26.

Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg brought the masses to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater last Wednesday for the St. Louis leg of their The High Road Tour. More than 17,000 came to see old school and new school hip-hop collide by way of the co-headliners. The show also featured DJ Drama, Casey Veggies, Jhene Aiko and Kevin Gates. Visit www.stlamerican.com for a full review and additional photos.

Same fight, new faces

Talented unknowns add flavor to typical boxing drama

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“Hands of Stone” is pitched as glimpse of Panamanian boxer Roberto Duran’s infamous rivalry with “Sugar” Ray Leonard. But the film is actually a biographical sketch of Duran. The Leonard element is played up as a climactic chapter for the sake of action – and to capitalize on the star power offered through pop star/ heartthrob Usher Raymond’s portrayal of Leonard in the film.

The true battle in “Hands of Stone” is between Duran and his demons – and legendary

trainer Ray Arcel’s commitment to instill enough discipline in the talented rising champion to fight them off.

The film, which is based on the book of the same name by Christian Giudice, was a popular selection of the Sundance Film Festival, and the hope is that it will resonate similarly with mainstream audiences when it is released nationwide on Friday, August 26.

“Hands of Stone” falls in line with the inspirational boxing film genre defined by Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky,” which saw a

Black & Single

Dealing with dating during weight gain

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“I really think my size is causing a problem in my love life,” she said with a deep sigh.

“Welcome to the club, girl,” I said, trying to break her somber, heartbroken tone.

The third-trimester-pregnant pause let me know that my comic relief timing was as off, as always.

“Come on, girl, bodies change. People gain weight. It’s a part of life,” I said. “I have literally been every single size since you’ve known me. You can conquer this.”

The battle of the bulge that is most of our reality was something she never had to bother with until three years ago. She had been the same weight from sophomore year in high school until a few months after her 38th birthday. Then a series of professional and

she said. “How did I get here?” A stable of sturdy undergarments allowed her to avoid the obvious, but a comment from her on-again-off-again cut like a razor.

Acclaimed actors to perform Sophocles, spark conversation on social justice

By American staff

See SINGLE, C5

Photos by Lawrence Bryant.

Samira Wiley (“Orange is the New Black”)

Reg E. Cathey (“House of Cards”)

Gloria Reuben (“ER”)

Glenn Davis (“24”)

Wiz Khalifa

Snoop Dogg

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

Fri., Aug. 26, 7 p.m., Lumiere Place presents Betty Wright & The Whispers. 999 N. 2nd St., 63102. For more information, visit www. lumiereplace.com.

Sat., Aug. 27, 7 p.m., Martin Luther Mathews Awards & Benefit Concert feat. Chaka Khan with El DeBarge Enjoy a fantastic double bill for a great cause, helping Mathews-Dickey build an Achievement Avenue of well educated, physically active and hopeful Scholar Athletes. Celebrate the achievements of high-performing young people, dedicated volunteers and generous members of the community. The Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 679-5228 or visit www. mathews-dickey.com.

Tues., Aug. 30, 6 p.m., Missouri History Museum presents Twilight Tuesdays: The Melvin Turnage Band 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

Sat., Sept. 3, 10 p.m., Next Up One Year Anniversary Bash feat. J. Holiday This night will also include performances from local talent, including comedians, singers, poets, and other entertainers. The Rustic Goat, 2617 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 605-8097.

special events

Thur., Aug. 25, 7 p.m., Secure Entertainment presents Word Play Haiku Slam. A new open mic event dedicated to the art of haiku. Join us for a night of enlightenment. Urb Arts, 2600 N. 14th St., 63106. For more information, call (314) 299-

7947 or visit www.secure-ent. com.

Fri., Aug. 26, 10 p.m., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Gamma Eta Chapter presents Blu CaΣcade: Back to School Edition. Hosted By DJ Uncensored. 120 E. Catalan St., 63111. For Sat., Aug, 27, 7:30 a.m., Great Things Incorporated Foundation presents the Hitting the Greens to Feed the Hungry Charity Golf Tournament. All proceeds benefit our organization’s efforts to provide hot meals to those in need. Eagle Springs Golf Course, 2575 Redman Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 534-3227 or visit www. greatthingsinc.org.

Sat., Aug, 27, 8 a.m., Rags to Riches: Neighborhood-Wide Yard Sale. Start at the Grace United Methodist Church parking lot, 6199 Waterman Blvd., to get your map and find bargains and treasures sold by vendors and residents throughout the neighborhood. Grace United Methodist Church, 6199 Waterman Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 862-5122 or visit www.skinkerdebaliviere. wordpress.com.

Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m., Better Family Life presents PeaceFest 2016 – Back to the Basics: Family, Faith & Neighborhood. The family and community celebration includes a children’s play zone, live music and entertainment on the main stage, competitive sports, dancing, vending services for skin, hair products, handcrafted jewelry, clothing accessories, food, and much more. While PeaceFest is about family, the theme for this year is to stop the gun violence occurring in the city of St. Louis. Forest Park Central Fields, 63110. For more information, call (314) 367-3440 or (314) 3818200.

Featured Event

Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m., Better Family Life presents PeaceFest 2016 – Back to the Basics: Family, Faith & Neighborhood. For more information, call (314) 3673440 or (314) 381-8200.

Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m., The St. Louis Regional Chamber presents the Show U St. Louis Regional College Festival. Transitioning to a new city is never easy, especially as a first year college student. Show U St. Louis will give you the opportunity to experience St. Louis all at once with live music brought to you by the best of the best local bands, a variety of food and dessert from all over the city, interactive entertainment, volunteer and internship opportunities, and a chance to introduce yourself to a few of the region’s top employers. Soldiers Memorial Park, 13th St. and Chestnut, 63103. For more information, visit www. showustl.com.

Sat., Aug. 27, 12 p.m., A Conscious Conversation STL presents Conscious Fest. A festival celebrating our culture, building our community, and enabling collective

consciousness. Events include live music, poetry, vendors, healthy eating demonstrations, a kids korner, and more. Harris Stowe, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, call (618) 509-2594.

Sat., Aug. 27, 1 p.m., Sistahs 2 Sistahs Network, Inc. presents the 4th Annual “Swag” Workshop. This is a DIY – Interactive Educational Workshop. To have the best chance of success today, youth must be able to flourish in freedom recognizing that learning happens by doing. This workshop will create a setting that honors girls’ own learning and develops them as curious, creative, and passionate learners. Topics will include bullying and selfesteem, social media safety, fitness challenge competition, and more. Crossroads College Preparatory School, 500 DeBaliviere Ave., 63112. For more information, call (314)

dynamic music and dance performances by traditional ethnic artists, world music favorites and the finest traditional acoustic music and song. Tower Grove Park, 4256 Magnolia Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 773-9090 or visit www. festivalofnationsstl.org.

Sun., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., The FATshionably Correct Launch Party and Fashion Show. We are celebrating the launch of our organization with a fashion show and after-party. Come see STL’s finest plussize models ripping the runway and celebrate all things beauty and fashion. Mix and mingle with the style influencers and socialites of STL. DJ Charlie Chan will be on the 1’s and 2’s all night. Rustic Goat, 2617 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 492-0049.

833-9974.

Through Aug. 27, St. Lou Fringe Festival. 2016 will see the premiere of microtheater (short performances for an audience of no more than 13 patrons in an intimate, immersive setting), spin rooms (post show talk backs an workshops), and an incubator program (a specialized collaborative showcase setting with more support for emergent artists). Over half of the Festival performances will focus on stories of individuals underrepresented in the mainstream performing arts based on ethnicity, gender identity, language, dialect, age, physical ability, BMI, or other barrier. Past favorite programs like Fringe Family and the Artica sculpture garden will again enliven Strauss Park. Grand Center, 3526 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 643-7853 or visit www. stlfringe.com.

Aug. 27 – 28, International Institute presents the Festival of Nations. A multiethnic celebration featuring dance, music, food, cultural and educational exhibits, folk art demonstrations, and craft market. There will also be three stages of non-stop

Sat., Sept 3, 8 a.m., Sixth Annual Race For Refuge This popular event generates funding for the St. Louis organization, The Covering House, which provides refuge and restoration to girls who have experienced sexual exploitation or sexual trafficking. There will be a 10K/5K and a Run/Walk. Tower Grove Park, 4256 Magnolia Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 962-3450 or visit www. raceforrefuge.org.

Sat., Sept 3, 12 p.m., St. Louis Pan-Afrikan Family Fest. Come out for food, vendors, entertainment, and history. 3935 Enright Ave., 63108. For more information, call (618) 514-5240.

Sat., Sept 3, 5 p.m., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. St. Louis Alumni Chapter presents ALA White Summer Finale Day Party. Music by DJ Lee. Kappa House, 500 Vandeventer Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 341-3970 or (314) 496-4720.

Wed., Sept. 7, 5 p.m., FOCUS St. Louis 40/20 Anniversary Party. We’re turning 20 and celebrating 40 years of Leadership St. Louis. We’re inviting alumni from all our programs and friends from across the St. Louis region to join us to celebrate. This is an opportunity to connect with FOCUS alumni from all eight leadership programs. Each ticket purchased helps support our ongoing effort to connect and educate leaders to create a thriving region. The Biergarten at Anheuser-Busch, 1200

The Pageant welcomes Floetry. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Lynch St., 63118. For more information, call (314) 6574027 or visit www.focus-stl. org/Anniversary.

Fri., Sept. 9, 12 p.m., The National Association of Black Accountants 35th Annual Scholarship Luncheon. The Scholarship Luncheon is designed to help high school and college students majoring in Accounting, Finance or Business to afford higher education. This year’s guest speaker will be Emily Pitts, Principal of Inclusion & Diversity with Edward Jones. The Highlands Golf & Tennis Center, 5163 Clayton Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.naba-stl.org.

Fri., Sept. 9, 6 p.m., Beloved Streets of America presents the Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Dinner. Support us in our first ever charity dinner to raise awareness to Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and the poor light and infrastructure in which he and his work have been sadly shown. Join us to learn how to change this. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd., 63120. For more information, call (314) 814-1043.

literary

Sat., Sept. 3, 1 p.m., Live, Love and Laugh Book Signing and Speaking Event Join motivational speaker and published author, Souljourner Howard, as she shares her secrets of how she Lives, Loves and Laughs. She is very excited to share what she has learned in her journey, especially in the rearing of 2 autistic children; she maintains that their is never a dull moment but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She invites all people, especially those with special needs children, to hear how she has despite her challenges found joy in her everyday life. The Wilder Theatre, 252 North Main, Edwardsville, IL. 62025. For more information, visit www. degreesofperfection.com.

comedy

Sat., Sept. 3, 7 p.m., St. Louis Kings of Comedy vs. St. Louis Queens of Comedy. Comedians include Jaylee Thomas, Jovan Bibbs, Mz. Tiffany, Ladyre, and more. Hosted by Maurice G. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 599-0705.

Fri., Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m., The Derek Martin Food Drive

presents The Annual Comedy Fundraiser. Featuring Maurice G and Friends, Hosted by Rev Lil’ Nate on the turntables Old School 95.5’s Don D2ThaC Clair. Join us for a night of memorable laughs and assist us in our efforts to feed 1000+ families this Christmas. Polish Heritage Center, 1413 N. 20th St., 63106. For more information, call (314) 359-3258.

art

Aug. 27 – Oct. 30, COCA presents Outside In: Paint for Peace. Showcasing the power of the arts, the exhibition presents a selection of the murals painted on the boardedup storefronts by amateur and professional artists in the days and weeks following the 2014 protests in Ferguson. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 7256555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

theatre

Sept. 7 – 25, The Black Rep presents Miss Julie, Clarissa and John. The dangerous attraction between the landowner’s daughter and his top servant takes on new shades as its taboo nature expands from crossing boundaries of social class to also encompass racial lines. The situation is heightened further by Southers’ extensive

development of the third onstage character from Strindberg’s play, which in this searing version becomes central to the conflict through her identity as the mulatto daughter of a slave woman. Edison Theatre, Washington University, 6465 Forsyth Blvd., 63105. For more information, call (314) 5343810 or visit www.theblackrep. org.

Sat., Sept. 10, 2 p.m., Prince of Peace Church presents the National Gospel Musical Play – It Must be Love ‘Cause Hate Don’t Hurt this Bad Christian Comedian Reggie “The Bishop of Comedy” Reg stars in the play with an incredible cast that brings you into the life of a family who finds adversity knocking at their lives. As everything is turned upside down and inside out they come to realization that true love is the answer. 9350 Natural Bridge Rd., 63134. For more information, call (314) 258-0480 or visit www.princeofpeacechurchstl. com.

Sept. 15 – 18, UMSL Department of Theatre and Cinema presents Miriam Makeba: Mama Africa the Musical. The story, life and times of Miriam Makeba are told in a dramatic fashion, outlining her activism in helping to bring down apartheid (and impact on the global civil rights movement), her fame & international

solutions – such as, products, art, services, campaigns, programs, businesses, and more – in response to eradicating domestic violence within the St. Louis region. The beginning of the night will feature guest speakers and empathy building activities, providing participants insight into the impact of domestic violence within the region and nationwide. We’ll supply the food, swag, and some expert guidance. 4420 Duncan Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.creativereactionlab. com.

and efficient promotion of the welfare of children and families. Several partner agencies work together to serve the children and families in the greater St. Louis Metro Area. Bringing Families Together, 7151 N. Lindbergh Blvd., 63042.

success owing to her magical voice and her endurance in overcoming betrayal, failed marriages and the death of her only daughter, Bongi, while in exile. Set in Africa, the USA, and Belgium this is an inspirational, universal story that will appeal to a multi-generational audience worldwide. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 5164949 or visit www.touhill.org.

lectures and workshops

Sat., Aug. 27, 4 p.m., Creative Reaction Lab presents Community Reaction Lab: Domestic Violence. A brainstorming and creation sprint, in which teams will spend 24 hours designing

Tues., Aug. 30, 5:30 p.m., FOCUS St. Louis presents Exploring Ferguson’s Fault Lines: The Race Quake that Rocked a Nation. Join us for a panel discussion with the editor and authors as they discuss the ripple effects felt across the nation, the underlying systemic issues at work, and how we can address them in our region. Panelists include Kimberly Norwood, WashU law; Thomas Harvey, ArchCity Defenders; Brendan Roediger, SLU law; Colin Gordon, University of Iowa and others. Moderated by Tim Lloyd of St. Louis Public Radio. J.C. Penney Conference Center, UMSL, 1 University Dr., 63121. For more information, call (314) 622-1250 or visit www.focusstl.org/FaultLines.

Tues., Aug. 30, 6:30 p.m., Girl Power W.O.V.E. Mentoring Program. A ten week program designed to promote sisterhood and weekly workshops that focus on empowerment, self esteem, body image, public speaking, and peer pressure to name a few. St. Louis County Library, 9909 Lewis and Clark Blvd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 388-4174 or visit www.ourfathershouse1.org.

Thur., Sept. 1, 6 p.m., St. Louis Partners presents Foster Parent Info Session. This partnership allows some of the area’s most successful child welfare agencies to come together to create an effective

Sat., Aug. 27, 2 p.m., The Health Promoter presents St. Louis Dance Your Pounds Off. Hosted by celebrity dance fitness instructor, Dwight Holt, Jr. 111 S. Geyer Rd., 63122. For more information, visit www.danceyourpoundsoff.com.

Sat., Sept. 3, 8 a.m., Gateway to Well-being Festival. A family-friendly community event to connect local, expert professionals with the community, helping empower St. Louisans to live healthier, happier lives. We are expanding what people think of as “self care” with this event, incorporating not just massage, yoga, and nutrition but branching out to music, art, and community organizations. 50 S. Leonor K Sullivan Blvd., 63102. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Mondays, 6:30 p.m., Yoga & Chill. A beginner-friendly, all levels (75 minute) class that spends time working through fundamental yoga postures and shapes while exploring alignment, breathing, relaxation techniques, and a good time. Modern Healer Studio, 1908 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

spiritual

Aug. 26 – 27, Eagle Eye Ministries Fire Conference 2016. Featuring Dr. Venice L. McCoy, host and speaker. Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 10000 Natural Bridge Rd., 63134. For more information or to register, call (866) 9466796 or visit www.eagleeyeministries.com.

The Pageant welcomes Lupe Fiasco. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Outside the Wire will premiere “Antigone in Ferguson” at The Center of Social Empowerment in Ferguson, Missouri on Saturday, September 17.

The project will present dramatic readings of Sophocles’ “Antigone” – an ancient Greek tragedy about what happens when personal conviction and state law clash, and violence ensues.

Participating actors include Samira Wiley (“Orange is the New Black”), Reg E. Cathey (“House of Cards”), Gloria Reuben (“ER”) and Glenn Davis (“24”).

The Ancient Chorus element of the production will be performed by the Phil Woodmore Singers, a gospel group including members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Choir, Trinity Community Church Choir, Wellspring Church Praise Team and Center for Creative Arts.

Sophocles’ “Antigone” is an ancient Greek tragedy about a teenage girl who wishes to bury her brother, Polyneices, who recently died in a brutal civil war. Creon, the new and untested king, has ruled that Polyneices’ body must remain above the earth. Anyone who breaks this law will be put to death.

Antigone openly and intentionally defies his edict, covering her brother’s body

with dirt and publicly declaring her allegiance to a higher law, one that transcends that of the state – the law of love. Creon is then forced – by his own political rhetoric, and by the fragile social order that he has barely begun to establish since the civil war – to make an example of his niece by sentencing her to death. In the process of following through with his own decree, Creon loses everything: his son, his

n “That’s what this event is all about: letting the art of the past speak to us today so that we can connect with one another.”

– Pastor F. Willis Johnson

political office, and the social order he struggled so hard to defend.

At its core, “Antigone” is a play about what happens when personal conviction and state law clash, raising the question: When everyone is right (or feels justified), how do we avert the violence that will inevitably take place?

“Antigone in Ferguson,” developed by Outside the Wire, is led by director/translator Bryan Doerries, with the partnership of the PopTech Institute and The Center for Social Empowerment

at Wellspring Church. This production is co-presented with the Onassis Foundation USA.

“In order to heal what divides our neighborhoods, communities, cities and nation, we must collectively acknowledge our shared humanity and approach each other with humility and compassion.” Doerries said.

“ By performing Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’ for diverse audiences in Ferguson, our goal is to create a safe space for people to stand up, speak their personal truths, and feel respected and heard.”

The evening’s events are created for diverse audiences composed of concerned citizens, members of faith communities, city officials and law enforcement. The goal is to generate powerful dialogue after the readings within these communities to foster compassion, understanding and positive action.

“That’s what this event is all about,” Johnson said. “Letting the art of the past speak to us today so that we can connect with one another.”

“Antigone in Ferguson” will take place at The Center of Social Empowerment 33 S. Florissant Rd. in Ferguson, Missouri on Saturday, Sept. 17. There will be two performances taking place at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Performances are free and open to the public (limited seating available) with donations accepted. For more information, visit www. centerforsocialempowerment. com or call (314) 256-9123.

“Hands of Stone” opens in theatres nationwide on Friday August 26. The film is rated R with a running time of 105 Minutes.

creativity and depth, the fresh faces that carry the film make it entertaining to watch.

coaching Ramirez to effectively carry the weight of the film on his shoulders.

resurgence in 2015-16 with the likes of Antoine Fuqua’s “Southpaw” and Ryan Coogler’s extension of the Rocky franchise via “Creed.”

It’s a passion project of Venezuelan filmmaker Jonathan Jakubowicz, who called on his countryman Edgar Ramirez to assume the starring role in “Hands of Stone.” The film co-stars Robert DeNiro as Arcel.

Roberto Duran rises from the gutters of Panama during the tumultuous political climate of the 1960s and uses his fists to become the hero of his country. The film captures the highs and lows of the famed boxer’s storied career and complicated life.

As per usual, the film strictly adheres to the formula of the tortured champion who must defeat self-doubt and external obstacles to ascend to the top of his sport. Though the film lacks

DeNiro is the lone veteran in the film that will fling Ramirez’s hat to the front of the line as far as the next generation of leading men with his portrayal of Duran. His richly layered performance

n The true battle in “Hands of Stone” is between Roberto Duran and his demons.

shuts the door on his current lane of supporting roles and designated ethnic characters he’s been held to in his American cinematic career.

It helps to have the veteran DeNiro to play against, but Ramirez manages to hold his own in the film – and their chemistry reflects the premise of the film, with DeNiro

Cuban actress Ana Celia de Armas also shines as Felicidad Duran. Her passion and organic connection with Felicidad stretches her presence beyond what could have been a flat contribution as eye candy.

Although Usher Raymond’s role is little more than an extended cameo, he manages to make the most of it with a strikingly authentic portrayal of Sugar Ray Leonard. He goes a little too heavy on the charm, but still captures the essence of Leonard in a way that doesn’t come off as a badly mimicked caricature. Raymond’s performance as Leonard may be the role that finally allows the singer to officially break through on the big screen after more than 15 years of teetering with mostly forgettable appearances.

“Hands of Stone” opens in theatres nationwide on Friday August 26. The film is rated R with a running time of 105 Minutes.

MILES

Continued from C1

to preserve anecdotes and stories from Davis’ childhood to which no other museum has access. These stories are meant to highlight how the jazz legend’s spirit and accomplishments remain ingrained in the city.

Black preachers for Trump? Huh?

Almost a century ago, the black church was an organizational site for social and political activities, centers for economic development and growth. The Center for African American Ministries and Black Church Studies attests that in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, the black church functioned as the institutional center for black mobilization. Churches provided an organizational base and meeting place for African Americans to strategize their moves in the ongoing fight against racial segregation and oppression.

is dominated by the thought of the oppressors of the race. The ‘educated’ Negro minister is so trained as to drift away from the masses and the illiterate preachers into whose hands the people inevitably fall are unable to develop a doctrine and procedure of their own,”

Dr. Carter G. Woodson wrote in “The Mis-education of the Negro” (1933).

Once the building is complete, they hope to turn their attention to developing a small outdoor performance space so kids can share what they’ve learned with friends and family.

The project is not just an attempt to preserve Davis’ legacy. It’s also a bid to develop life-long community engagement and civic pride in East St. Louis.

“We’re looking to give our kids a little sense of home.

Third, Parks and Pearson expect to develop educational programs that include music classes, history lessons, and community stewardship targeted specifically at 6- to 12-year-olds. The project founders are working out a partnership with the local school district to develop concurrent programs in the classroom and at the museum.

That’s why we called this place HOME, House of Miles East St. Louis,” Pearson said. “So when you think of home, you think not only about the front

SINGLE

Continued from C1

“You’re gonna always be fine, but If you were the same size as when I met you …” he started.

“What is that supposed to mean?” she snapped before he could finish his backhanded compliment.

“Come on, now, we’ve all picked up some weight over the years.”

She stopped returning his calls.

Her recent meltdown was triggered by a date who said he thought it was so sexy the way she carried herself “for a woman her size.”

She’s by no means a body shamer and has friends of all shapes. But being a 6/8 for 20 years and then suddenly having to buy clothes in sizes with a “W” on the end has taken its toll on her self-esteem.

“I really never thought that I associated my appeal with my weight until it started changing,” she said.

She had always been the tiniest one in just about every group. Now she’s about

midway between biggest and smallest.

“I don’t want to sound shallow, but I’m not built to be this big,” she said. “How can I have these certain expectations and requirements with what I’m looking for in a man – and I look like this?”

n A series of professional and emotional setbacks saw her spiral into a bit of a depression. For the first time in her life, she turned to food for comfort.

People can say what they want about looking beyond the external and all of that, but weight is a factor when it comes to dating and initial physical attraction – especially for someone who has never had to deal with being outside the confines of size standards until recently.

I know from experience that extra fluff can mean a

door and the back door but the whole community.”

The demolition and renovation are primarily supported through individual donations and a grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement. Founders are additionally seeking to crowd-source funding online. The project also has partnered with Creative Exchange Lab –Center for Architecture + Design StL to help develop a strategic plan for how best to engage residents and visitors. For more information, visit http://www.houseofmilesestl. org/ Republished with permission from http://news.stlpublicradio. org.

permanent position in the friend zone for otherwise eligible partners – men and women.

“Maybe this is God’s way of teaching you to see beyond the physical as he prepares you for your husband,” I said. “Or to show how real the weight loss struggle is so that you aren’t quick to judge. Or to say that there is so much more to you and your beauty than your size.”

“Or that there are consequences for reckless behavior – including with food,” she said.

“Or that,” I said.

She’s been trying for the last year to get on a fitness and healthy eating regimen that will get her back to her normal body weight, but I don’t have to tell y’all what a battle that has been. But she’s trying.

Her dating life hasn’t been the same, but I think that has as much to do with her lack of confidence in her present body as her fuller figure.

“Either I have to become a reflection of my qualities for an ideal mate, or change the list,” she said.

She’s currently somewhere in between.

In November, the nation will choose a new president. The two major party candidates, and now the Libertarian and Green party candidates, insist they are best suited to lead America. The primaries were fierce. The candidates were aggressive. The rhetoric was forceful. And the African-American vote is essential for each contender that look forward to moving into the White House.

Passage of the Civil Rights Acts in effect solidified African Americans’ allegiance to the Democratic Party, but now there is an attempt, with the help of some black preachers and others, to convert AfricanAmerican constituencies to vote for Donald Trump –people such as Bruce LeVell, executive director of National Diversity Coalition for Trump, Steve Parson, a minister in Richmond, Virginia, and Pastor Darrell Scott, a 56-year-old evangelical minister from Cleveland, Ohio.

“In the church, the Negro has had sufficient freedom to develop this institution in his own way; but he has failed to do so. His religion is merely a loan from the whites who have enslaved and segregated the Negroes; and the organization, though largely an independent Negro institution,

“No people can go forward when the majority of those who should know better have chosen to go backward, but this is exactly what most of our misleaders do. Not being learned in the history and background of the race, they figure out that there is no hope for the masses; and they decide, then, that the best thing they can do is to exploit these people for all they can and use the accumulations selfishly.”

We all know that most African-American preachers today love and respect their congregations, and lead their respective worshipers in a righteous and respectful approach. They participate in the electoral process and organize rallies, protests, and marches, while teaching Christianity and community involvement. But I am alarmed about the Trump supporters.

U.S. Senator Robert Toombs in his speech that lead Georgia to secede from the Union before the Civil War said “when traitors became numerous enough, treason becomes respectable.”

And what about this quote from Cicero?

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious.

But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

These preachers are campaigning for Trump, in every segment of the media, so we must remember what Malcolm X said: “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”

What do I think of their messages? How do I feel about their campaign to sway African-American voters? William Shakespeare summed it up in Macbeth: “It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on KNLC-TV Ch. 24. I can be reached by fax at 314-8373369, e-mail at berhay@swbell. net or on Twitter @berhay.

Photo by Willis Ryder Arnold

The East St. Louis childhood home of music legend Miles Davis is currently under construction for its next incarnation as a museum and educational center.

Bernie Hayes

Often a look into the past brings forth a new look to the future and that is exactly what is taking place at the Saint Louis Art Museum. In 1970, the Museum featured the photographs of Moneta Sleet, Jr. in his first retrospective exhibition. In 1993, the Museum featured the exhibition, My Point of View: Photographs by Moneta Sleet, Jr, curated by Mejon Cherise Smith, the 199293 Romare Bearden Graduate Fellow. Jump forward to 2016, and the current Romare Bearden Fellow, Courtney Baxter, has spent the last several months reviewing and revising Smith’s research and working with Museum staff to upload Sleet’s photographs and writing text so that viewers can access the photographs from the comforts of their home by visiting slam.org and clicking African American Art.

Over the next several years, the Museum’s goal is to upload additional Sleet photographs regularly to the website. However, all 103 photographs—along with other works on paper—can always be viewed during regular Museum hours by making an appointment to visit the Museum’s Print Study Room. To schedule an appointment for an individual or group email paper@slam.org or call 314.655.5402 to set up an appointment. A minimum of 48 hours advance notice is required.

Comprising more than 100 photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, African independence celebrations, portraits of celebrities, and series of intimate images children, the Sleet photographs is one of the single largest collections of works by African American artists in the Museum’s collection. The photograph collection was graciously donated to the Museum’s permanent collection by Mr. Sleet and Johnson Publishing Company, publishers of Ebony and Jet Magazines following the 1993 exhibition.

Moneta Sleet Jr. is one of the most recognized photojournalists of the Civil Rights Movement. Sleet received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and his master’s degree in journalism from New York University. Sleet’s career began as a sportswriter for Amsterdam News before he was hired at Our World magazine where he worked for five years. When Our World shut down in 1955, Sleet went on to become a staff photographer for Johnson Publishing, home of Ebony and Jet magazines. His first assignment was to photograph the Montgomery Bus Boycott. During his career, Sleet earned a Pulitzer Prize for the

outstanding quality of his work, in addition to a National Urban League award, and the National Association of Black Journalists award. Sleet received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and his master’s degree in journalism from New York University.

One of Sleet’s first assignments was to update Ebony readers on the state of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Through his involvement with boycott organizers and his early friendship with their leader, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sleet began his mission in the struggle for human and Civil Rights. In the years to come he would witness and document the civil rights movement in America and Africa giving us some of our most memorable images, including those of the Selma March, Dr. King receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, and his Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and daughter Bernice at the funeral of Dr. King.

We invite you view the Sleet photographs online or make an appointment to see them in our Print Study Room. Visit slam.org for a full calendar of events and exhibitions.

a Tourist in Your Own Town

Look out for these festivals

By Kiara Bryant For the St. Louis American

With fall drawing near and the kids officially back in school, here are a few festivals to look forward to in St. Louis. Mark your calendars for the weekend of Sept. 23-25 as it has something for every taste.

Back for its second year, Q in the Lou, will take place at Soldiers Memorial Sept. 23-25. This is a celebration of flavorful seasoned, grilled and smoked meats featuring nine top chefs of BBQ from St. Louis and others around the country. Barbeque celebrants from all over will reunite for cooking tutorials, a BBQ innovation expo, KCBS BBQ Competition, live music, and great barbeque. For we all know that the best BBQ in the world is found right at home in St. Louis, Missouri. Perhaps you’ve tried Pappy’s Salt + Smoke, Sugarfire Smoke House or Bogarts just to name a few. Admission to the event is free, but if you’d like to purchase VIP access visit www.qinthelou.com

Barbeque is not the only thing that we’re known for in St. Louis. According to Business Insider, St. Louis is the city with the fastest growing startup scene. That’s right, St. Louis was ranked as the number one city selected over all other cities that you may typically think of for this category. But don’t take our word for it, see it for yourself at The Murmuration Festival on Sept. 23-25 throughout the Cortex campus. The festival will highlight art, music, science and technology during a three-day event.

Innovators, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs will engage the public and share

their work. All visitors are welcome to enjoy the music performances, art exhibitions, interactive exhibits, speakers, maker expo, Cortex restaurants and more.

The festival’s inaugural music lineup includes: Flying Lotus, Tycho, Deerhoof, Yacht, Dan Deacon, Suuns, Prince Rama, Sky-Pony, and local artists ICE and Yowie. The Thought Series features: Mark Hatch of Tech Shop, Dr. Atyia Martin of the City of Boston, Steve Cousins of Savioke, and Calum Pearson of Cirque Du Soleil. Additionally, the festival will include sessions on virtual reality, robotics, creativity, big data, and more. See the complete list of speakers and sessions at www.murmurationfest. com

Maybe you’ve heard of the Strange Folk Festival, it’s been around for over 10 years. This event is for all of the crafty folks, those who want to participate in Pinterest wars and DIY activities. Strange Folk Festival is one of the largest independent artists maker’s festivals in the Midwest. Visitors travel far and wide for the festival featuring over 200 craft vendors, 30 food vendors and drawing a crowd of 30,000. You definitely won’t want to miss seeing Lafayette Square decked out into one of the most creative spaces you could imagine on Sept. 24-25. For now visit www.strangefolkfestival.com for more details.

Let’s continue to celebrate the traditions that we have in St. Louis and build new ones. If you’re looking for more events and festivals in your own town, don’t forget to visit our events calendar at www.explorestlouis.com.

Moneta Sleet

Photo courtesy of Explore St. Louis

Pappy’s Smokehouse

Anniversary

Reunions

Beaumont High School Class of 1966 50th Reunion, October 14-15 at the Sheraton Westport Plaza Hotel, 900 Westport Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146. Contact: Jacque’ HughesHayes (314) 914-4858 or Josh Beeks (314) 303-0791 for more information.

Cardinal Ritter College Prep

Class of 1987 is hosting an “Old School Hip Hop” party September 24, 2016 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Ave., St. Louis, 63120. Tickets: $20 at door, $15 in advance. Call April Brown at 314-446-5500 for more information.

DelloThedford Reunion Choir Concert: calling all former Gospel Symphonic, Sons of Thunder, GMWA and former students to participate in this musical celebration. The first rehearsal will take place, Friday September 9, 7 pm. at St. Alphonsus “The Rock” Catholic Church. Any questions, email glenn_ellis@ hotmail.com.

East St. Louis Class of 1971

Celebrations

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Timothy “T.J.” Townsend on August 21! Have a blessed birthday. I hope all your wishes and dreams come true! I love you, Your second mom, Tracy Neal

We would like to wish these two Virgo stars a Happy Birthday and a great year— Jasmine (August 24) and Cayden Flagg (August 26)! You guys have a true bond! Love y’all always, Mom and Candice

Happy 19th birthday to our son, Jamal Andrew Reid on August 22! Son, we are very proud of you! We thank God for you every day! Love, Mom, Dad and your brothers, Michael Jeffrey, Jalen and Jayson Reid

will celebrate its 45-year reunion Sept. 2-4, 2016 at the Casino Queen. For more information, please contact Opal at 314-952-4729, Sandra at 314-249-7295 or Glenda at 618-781-4888 or email timac48@aol.com.

Harrison School All Class Reunion Saturday September 10, 2016, 6:30 pm-10:30 pm at Ambruster Great Hall (6633 Clayton Rd. Tickets are $60 per person.For more info contact; Judy Darris at 314-443-6741, Yolanda Beck at 314-346-8103 or Làshell Tolliver at 314-420-3566.

Old Neighborhood Reunion celebration, the last Annual Street Festival, on September 17, from Noon—6 pm.

Leffingwell, Howard, Madison, Glasgow, Garrison, Cass, Sheridan, Thomas, Dickson, Dayton, Elliott and Jefferson.

Soldan High Class of 1966 has planned its 50-year reunion for September 9-10, 2016 at Christian Hospital Atrium, 1111 Dunn Road St. Louis, Mo 63136. For more information, please contact: Meredith Wayne Farrow, 314.521-8540, Robert Collins, 908.313-5002 or Marilyn Edwards Simpson, 341.837-7746. Facebook, soldan class of 1966 or email: stlsoldan1966@yahoo.com.

Sumner Class of 1965 is planning a “70th” Birthday Cruise for October 2017. If you’re interested and want

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO

to receive more information, please contact Luther Maufas (314) 541-4556, Brenda Smith Randall (314)382-1528, or Laura Young (314) 328-3512 with name, address so the info can be mailed to you.

Vashon Class of 1957 is having its 60-year reunion on May 20, 2017 at the Atrium at the rear of Christian N.E. Hospital on Dunn Road. Classes 1955-1959 are welcomed. For more information, please contact Lovely (Green) Deloch at 314867-1470, Marlene (Randall) Porter at 314-653-0107, Mae (Simmons) Mahone at 314653-0818 or Phyllis (Bolden) Washington at 314-531-9925.

Pastor Oscar Brooks and First Lady Augustine Brooks marked their 18th wedding anniversary on August 22 with a celebration in Dallas, TX. The couple resides in Ferguson Woods, MO.

Timothy ‘T.J.’ Townsend

Cayden and Jasmine Flagg

Jamal Andrew Reid

Swag Snap of the week

High fives for Snoop and Wiz’s new roadshow. I didn’t know what to expect when I headed to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater Wednesday night for The High Road Tour starring Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa. I am still washing the smell of “strange clouds” of my hair a whole week later, but I must say that I had a good little time. I’m just so glad that the show was outdoors – or there might be a class action suit against the tour for permanent lung and sinus damage from breathing in all that second hand smoke. After seeing the headliners get topless over the course of the show, I had the epiphany that Snoop and Wiz are both built like Swisher Sweets, which actually complimented the theme of the concert. I don’t see how they were still standing after the way they puffed and passed all night. But unlike their show, I’m not about to make this Partyline item a marijuana commercial, so I’ll go ahead and get on with it. The chemistry between those two was so seamless that I actually considered watching “Mac and Devin Go to High School” while on an accidental Netflix binge this weekend. Before Snoop and Wiz closed things out with a tag team style show, Kevin Gates, Jhene Aiko, Casey Veggies and DJ Drama warmed the stage up. He sounded okay, but I realized that I can’t all the way be down with a rapper whose name sounds like programming from a television network aimed at toddlers. Jhene Aiko hit the stage in full “I’m stuck at my granny’s for the night so I have to sleep in her bedclothes” swag. She looked cute, but I know somewhere in the world there is a pair of wedge leather slippers to match that 2X silk house shawl. Her voice was as wispy as her wardrobe, but she made it work for me. I don’t see what all the fuss is about Kevin Gates, but y’all clearly do – and he seemed to live up to the expectations of his growing fan base. I’m not gonna lie, he went hard with “I Don’t Get Tired.” As I was waiting for the main attraction, it hit me that I had never seen Snoop Dogg live before Wednesday. He was understandably in mellow mode, but I was impressed. I wish Wiz Khalifa would’ve kicked it up a notch like he normally does instead of keeping pace with Snoop, but all in all it was a really good show. Blind item: Did anyone else see the certain mover and shaker in the creative community of a certain age that was the last person you’d expect to get their life from “Gin and Juice?” I won’t put you on blast, but it was so much fun watching you “turn it up (their words, not mine)!”

An up in smoke after party. The way the folks packed it out at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, I just knew the Marquee was going to be going up on a Wednesday with the High Road’s resident spinner – the one and only DJ Drama –set to be in the building. Well, to my surprise I had enough room on the dance floor to reenact Simone Biles’ gold medal winning Olympic floor routine. When I tell you the folks didn’t bother, understand that it was a new level of “we couldn’t care less.” Folks just kind of hovered in VIP and peered over onto the most empty general admission area I’ve ever seen. In all fairness to the Marquee, they didn’t really stand a chance on pulling a decent crowd. It was a work night – and considering all the energy it takes to maneuver out of the amphitheater parking lot, an after party was the probably the last thing on folks minds.

Fresh laughs from old school comics. I had no idea that when I casually scooted into the Ambassador Saturday night that I was going to stumble into one of the most consistent laugh sessions I’ve had in a minute thanks to the Old School Comedy Jam starring Damon Williams, Teddy Carpenter and Don “DC” Curry. I got my life before the main attractions hit the stage. I walked in just in time to hear Alton High School alum Tammy Smith absolutely slay the roll call tribute to Dr. Jockenstein pulled off by show hosts DJ Kut and Darius Bradford. I was like “is this Roxane Shante in disguise?” Then Darius had me gagging about his experiences at London and Son’s – especially the idea of tucking one of their dinner rolls in your jaw and sucking on it like snuff. And when Damon Williams took the stage and said the Ambassador looked like it used to be a mattress warehouse – somebody could have rolled me up in one and tossed my corpse in the dumpster, because I was absolutely deceased. I left up out of there with my face hurting by the time that show was over. Williams was up first – and was best in my opinion. I must say that I had heard a portion of his act about sleeping and driving almost word for word by Lil Duval’s show opener Jayski a couple of months back. I don’t know where the bit originated from, but my heart tells me it was Williams. Teddy Carpenter rehashed a bunch of his “Def Comedy Jam” material, but still had the folks full of giggles. Don “DC” Curry came out using a voice that sounded borrowed from James Earl Jones. It was so strange, folks acted like they didn’t recognize him…even though he looked the same. It wasn’t until he said “It’s me” that folks seemed to warm up to the fact that he might be. But when he got on with the jokes, there was no doubt who was on that stage. And when he said that the upcoming presidential election seemed to be straight out of reality TV – and he’d vote for NeNe Leakes before Donald Trump – I was hollering.

Deserted day party. I can’t remember the last time I experienced a day more perfect than Sunday, so one would think that a day party would be ___________ (insert new slang for “off the chain”). Yard work, car washing or frolicking in the park was a priority because the masses were absolutely NOT at Ballpark Village. But really, who could be mad? The last thing you should do on a day with the wind, temperature and sun so perfectly aligned is be somewhere buying bottles and tearing the club up – unless an open air patio is involved.

Brooke and Michelle made time to get their party on in STL while visiting from ChiTown Saturday @ The Marquee

Tiffany, Mike and Bri celebrated a friend’s birthday in VIP Saturday @ Mood

Sabrina and Monica kicked back @ the Marquee Saturday

Shannon and Nina made time to unwind Saturday night @ Mood

Leah, Myrielle and Rikki soaked in the atmosphere Sunday @ Day Party STL @ Ballpark Village

Above: Rob, Triky, Orlando and Keith after another successful Day Party STL Sunday @ Ballpark Village

Marlon and Krystal enjoyed some laughs Saturday night courtesy of the Old School Comedy Jam @ The Ambassador

Whitney, Dominique and Sharde rounded off their weekend with fun @ BPV for Day Party STL

Mya and Tiffany were in chill mode Sunday for Day Party STL @ Ballpark Village

Carla and Ciera @ The Marquee for Element Saturdays

Comedians Darius Bradford, Teddy Carpenter and Don “D.C.” Curry with mother-daughter duo Kandice and Kim following The Old School Comedy Jam Saturday night at The Ambassador.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

PROJECT MANAGER

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking an enthusiastic, passionate and high-capacity candidate to join our team as a Project Manager. This position will work in an integrated team environment to complete projects ranging throughout conceptual planning, community engagement, design, engineering and construction of greenways and parks. Check www.GreatRiversGreenway.org/jobs and submit by September 9th. EOE

ASSOC. NETWORK ANALYST

REJIS is currently seeking an Assoc. Network Analyst to provide a wide range of services from installing, maintaining desktop PC's, switches, network routers, firewalls, servers, communication troubleshooting and support. To see our benefits or apply for this or other jobs, please visit:www.rejis.org

EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Deaconess Foundation Job Posting MANAGER Programs

Position Summary The primary responsibility of this full-time position is managing grant making processes within the foundation’s program portfolio. The secondary responsibility is relationship management and constituency support services to the foundation’s volunteers and prospective/ partner grantees. The position assures effectiveness of program operations by enhancing communication with partners and devising and implementing efficiencies of workflow.

To learn more about this opportunity including responsibilities, qualifications, and how to apply, visit the Deaconess Foundation website: http://www.deaconess.org/now-seekingmanager-programs

ACCOUNTING

Part-Time Accounting Assistant Proficient in Accounts Payable & Excel Spreadsheets. Working knowledge of Accounts Receivable. Understands General Ledger and Financial Reports. Experience in Quick Books preferred. Professional phone etiquette & customer service skills. Send resume with qualifications and work experience to: SLAM Blind Box 1001 – Accounting Assistance 2315 Pine Street St. Louis, MO 63103 Or email to BlindBox1001@gmail.com NO PHONE CALLS

AUDIO VISUAL MANAGER

Explore St. Louis seeks a full time Audio Visual Manager to handle the day to day audio visual operations within the America’s Center Convention Complex, which includes the Dome Stadium at America’s Center. This position develops and coordinates audio visual plans in accordance with event labor regulation agreements for customers at America’s Center. Oversees event production and the operation of the stadium video system and audio equipment. This position also works closely with the audio visual unions. Qualified candidates will possess knowledge of the convention industry, audio visual unions, sports stadiums and event production. Knowledge of Daktronics and digital messaging system a plus. Bachelor’s degree preferred from four-year college or university; or two to four years related experience and/or training. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and must be able to work a flexible schedule, which include, nights, weekends and holidays. Some travel may also be required. Email cover letter & resume to jobs@explorestlouis.com; NO PHONE CALLS! EOE.

REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS

Emerging Transportation Technology Strategic Plan

East-West Gateway is seeking submittals from consultants to develop an emerging transportation technology strategic plan for the St. Louis region. Submittals are due no later than 1:00 p.m. on September 14, 2016. Submittal details and specifications can be obtained at www.ewgateway.org or by calling 314-421-4220 ext. 263.

REQUESTFOR

PUBLIC NOTICE OF SINGLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: REBUILD PARTS FOR PRIMARYTANK. EVOQUAWATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC is the sole authorized manufacturer for the Envirex Clarifier/ Settler components for use in and compatible with the original equipment. The District is proposing single source procurement for this equipment because EVOQUAWATER TECHNOLOGIES is the only known available source. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com

Subcontractor bids are due by 10:30 Tuesday, August 30, 2016. You may email to jwalters@kciconstruction.com

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The City of St. Louis is seeking bids for a program of medical services including pre-employment medical examinations, fitness for duty examinations, reasonable suspicion, post accident, and random, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. Payment will be based on fee for service. Bid specifications may be obtained by calling (314)622-3563 or by email at DonaldsonS@stlouis-mo.gov All questions about the Request for Proposal must be submitted in written form to Sylivia M. Donaldson Department of Personnel via DonaldsonS@stlouis-mo.gov on or before September 2, 2016. Answers to question will be returned via email. Proposals must be delivered to the Department of Personnel on orbefore 4:00 P.M. on Monday, September12, 2016.

are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Missouri Baptist University will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit on Sept. 26, 2016, by a team representing the Higher Learning Commission. The Commission is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provides institutional accreditation on a regional basis. It will review the University’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation. The University has been accredited by the Commission since 1978.

MBU has engaged in a process of self-study to address the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation. The Commission’s team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate before recommending to the Commission a continuing status for the University. Following a review process, the Commission itself will determine the University’s status.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the University directly to: Public Comment on Missouri Baptist University The Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL60604-1411

BIDS for Site Development & Utility Changes forMedical Unit, Algoa Correctional Center, Jefferson City, Missouri, Project No. C1504-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/15/2016. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

LETTING #8619

Washington Apartments

Advocates push black church to minister on AIDS

Notes from 21st International AIDS Conference

By George E. Curry EmergeNewsOnline

DURBAN,

South Africa

–

Rev. Edwin C. Sanders II, sized up his audience at the 21st International AIDS Conference here and uttered instructions one wouldn’t normally expect to hear from a minister.

“Turn to your neighbor and say, ‘Sex,’” he said, catching delegates to the conference off guard. But after a couple of seconds of nervous hesitation, they complied.

“Now say, ‘Good sex. And lots of it.’” There was laughter after each instruction, which Sanders interpreted as discomfort. He said the discomfort of discussing that three-letter word – sex – hampers the religious community from more actively addressing the global HIV crisis.

evidence of that is the old covenant God makes with Abraham,” he said. “After all, He says, ‘I will give you descendants that will number more than the sand by the sea and the stars in the sky.’ That’s a lot of sex. You don’t get descendants without procreation.”

He understands that people are more accustomed to getting their sexual advice from Dr. Phil than from the minister they see in church every Sunday.

“People are not used to hearing the language of sexuality in church,” Sanders said. “But you cannot talk about the Bible and not talk about sexuality.”

Sanders, senior servant at Metropolitan International Church in Nashville, Tennessee, has been at the forefront of trying to persuade the faith community to take the lead in combatting HIV.

In an interview, Sanders said his brief exercise at the conference shows how uncomfortable people are discussing sex.

“It makes you realize how uncomfortable people are,” he explained. “Sex, for us, has been framed in such a negative fashion. It’s the no-no. It’s the wild thang. It’s nasty. Understand it’s a gift – it’s a gift from God.”

To prove his point, Sanders pointed to the Bible.

“In the Bible, the best

Duane Crumb, director of HIV Hope International, told one session that for all of its talk about forgiveness of acceptance, the church can be one of the least accepting places for people with HIV or AIDS.

Many see the black church as having a special responsibility, given the disproportionate impact HIV/AIDS has on African Americans.

Although African Americans represent only 12 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for 44 percent of new HIV infections and 44 percent of people living with HIV in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There are some who view HIV as punishment for disobeying what they perceive as God’s instructions. They point to Leviticus 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” And Leviticus

20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

But others view that as a

penalty (!!!). It also says the same thing about eating pork or shellfish, charging interest on loans, and a whole bunch of other restrictions that were a part of the Old Testament Law Code,” Erica Williams Simon writes on upworthy.com.

n Many see the black church as having a special responsibility, given the disproportionate impact HIV/AIDS has on African Americans.

selective reading of the Bible.

“Yep. We’ve all heard that Leviticus is where the Bible straight-up says that homosexual behavior is an abomination. And yes, it does. It also says that homosexuals should receive the death

“But for Christians, the Old Testament doesn’t (dare I say “shouldn’t?”) settle any issue because Romans 10:4 says that Christ is the end of the law. Which is probably why most Christians today eat meat, use credit cards, wear makeup, and

support equality for women. Because, as Hebrews 8:13 says, the old law is obsolete and aging.”

Dueling interpretations of the Bible notwithstanding, there is no question that African Americans are extremely religious.

A Pew Foundation study found, “African-Americans stand out as the most religiously committed racial or ethnic group in the nation.” It explained that “nearly eightin-ten African Americans (79 percent) say religion is very important in their lives, compared with 56 percent among all U.S. adults. In fact, even a large majority (72 percent) of African Americans who are unaffiliated with any particular faith say religion plays at least a somewhat important role in their lives; nearly half (45 percent) of

unaffiliated African Americans say religion is very important in their lives, roughly three times the percentage who says this among the religiously unaffiliated population overall (16 percent).”

There are some signs that the black church is becoming more involved. For example, the NAACP declared July 17 as the Day of Unity whereby pastors across the U.S. preached on HIV as a social justice issue.

Jesse Milan Jr., interim president and CEO of AIDS United and a former board chair of the Black AIDS Institute, said the black church could do more. He said the church is very good about praying for and laying hands on members diagnosed with diabetes or cardiovascular disease, but has exemplified an unwillingness to show similar expression of support for those with HIV or AIDS.

In a conversation with Rev. Sanders at a Black AIDS Institute forum here, Milan said: “If we don’t actually blurt out those words when we’re doing that call, whether it’s an altar call or prayer, we’re not actually doing everything we can.”

To do everything it can, Sanders said, the church must not remain stuck in the Old Testament teachings.

“In our churches, we probably have been more conservative, in many instances, in the way in which we have approached social issues,” he said. “We have not been as effective in translating First Century text into 21st Century realities. What often gets in the way of being able to move forward around complex issues is that we are still grounded in traditions that are past and gone.”

George E. Curry is editorin-chief of EmergeNewsOnline. com.

Guest Columnist George E. Curry

Photo by Ann Ragland

Jesse Milan Jr. , interim president and CEO of AIDS United, and Rev. Edwin C. Sanders II, senior pastor at Metropolitan International Church in Nashville