July 28th, 2011 edition

Diversity

A Business Imperative

• The largest edition in our 83-year history of uninterrupted publishing •

Dancing for health

“I was pleasantly surprised that she brought issues of prejudice that many might find hard to discuss.”

– Malcolm Townes, on Brenda Newberry (above)

Workshopping diversity at Wash U

University tries to connect underrepresented innovators to regional resources

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis

Maurice Muia, a master’s student in sustainability at Saint Louis University, had two golden minutes on July 25. He had the ears of about 100 poten-

DR. HELEN

NASHTURNS 90

Iconic pediatrician celebrated by family and friends

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St.Louis American

“Dad and Helen were role models for me coming up, and it’s really great to know that she’s lived a wonderful life and touched so many lives in St. Louis,” said Dr. Alison Nash, who represents the third generation of the Nash medical legacy. In the 1940s – at a time when blacks and women faced an uphill battle in the field of medicine – Dr. Helen Nash paved a way for her race and gender as one of the top pediatricians in the area. St. Louis received the gift of Dr. Nash’s dedication and com-

See NASH, A7

tial business partners, investors and mentors who gathered at Washington University’s Diversity Workshop to pitch his idea for a bottle-reuse business at the event’s IdeaBounce. Then a few minutes after his pitch, entrepreneur Dawn Stovall presented her recycling program idea. After she

finished, she whispered to

as she passed

got to talk.” Those connections are exactly what the workshop was supposed to do – give women and minorities the

Sheriff fires deputy for running forsheriff

Vernon Betts said Jim Murphy fears his credibility in the community

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

On July 12, Sheriff James Murphy, who was found guilty of racial discrimination last September, fired an African-American deputy sheriff when he saw a business card that identified the deputy as a candidate for sheriff in the city of St. Louis.

In a July 6 letter to terminate Deputy Sheriff Vernon Betts, Murphy wrote that Betts violated a procedural order. That order states, “Deputies shall not file for, campaign for or hold any elected public office while an employee of the Sheriff of the City of St. Louis.” However, Murphy’s order puts a barrier on the path that most people take to become sheriffs in Missouri, experts say.

“I have the right to run for sheriff. It’s my constitutional right.”

– Vernon Betts

John Worden, the director of the Law Enforcement Training Institute at University of Missouri–Columbia, said aspiring sheriffs typically become deputies and then run for the elected office of sheriff.

As long as the deputies don’t campaign on the clock, they can run for office while still working as deputies, Worden said. Michael Covington, executive director of the Missouri’s Sheriff’s Association, said there is no state statute that prohibits deputy sheriffs from running for sheriff. Covington was also not aware of any such ordinances that prohibit a deputy sheriff running for sheriff.

Betts said he believes that Murphy abused his power as sheriff by writing the order to squash competition in the 2012 election.

Betts said he told Murphy in June 2010 that he planned to run for the seat. From Betts’perspective, Murphy developed the order because Betts’popularity was growing. As a minister at the Shalom Church City of Peace, former St. Louis Public School teacher, retired AmerenUE employee and well-known citizen in the African-American community, he believes he has a fighting chance at winning the election.

Mike Guzy, the sheriff’s executive assistant, said that Murphy developed the order because he did not want deputies to engage in political activities.

“We ran it by the judges before we put it into effect,” Guzy said. “It’s a good order. We don’t want our deputies out campaigning. They are supposed to be uninvolved.” Guzy would not say which judges the

A group of youth from Pinx Academy of Dance performed recently at the CHIPS Health fair.

Photo by Maurice Meredith

American

Her brother Dr.Homer Nash and sister Dorothy Nash Shack helped legendary St.Louis pediatrician Dr.Helen Nash (center) celebrate her 90th birthday Saturday afternoon at Cuisine d’Art restaurant in Creve Coeur.

Muia

his seat, “We’ve

Photo by Kenya Vaughn

L.A. Reid vows to keep it cute at Epic “X Factor” judge and new CEO of

According to one girl, Chris got consistent dances from her “for nearly two hours.” Diamond posted on her twitter: “Shout out to Chris Rock for the love

A survivor who teaches awareness

Prostate Cancer Survivors and Awareness

Walk Aug. 20

Special to The American

It was a telephone call that William Clemons will never forget.

“The doctor said, ‘Mr. Clemons, you have the best cancer anyone can have,’” Clemons recalled.

“That was a heck of a thing to tell somebody. What he meant was that it was in the early stages.”

Having retired in 2005, after nearly 33 years at the St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center, Clemons, age 68, was enjoying life. He questioned God whether he would die from prostate cancer.

After gathering his thoughts and turning to his faith, he experienced a sense of calmness and optimism. Instead of being depressed or succumbing to fear, Clemons spent the remainder of that ill-fated day doing what he enjoys best – playing tennis.

Three years later, he’s still playing tennis. And he’s once again enjoying retirement. After surviving and living to share his story, Clemons believes God has given him purpose that focuses on helping people.

As an active member of the Empowerment Network Inc., a local support organization that aims to increase awareness about prostate cancer and testing/screening among AfricanAmerican men, Clemons devotes time to educate others about the disease.

The Network has about 125 members who all share a common bond – they’re survivors.

William Clemons educates men about prostate cancer and the importance of early screening as a volunteer for the Empowerment Network Inc.

tered by Siteman Cancer Center.

For the past three years, Clemons has supported the event by walking and leading sign-up efforts at his church, Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church. Before being diagnosed, he admits that he didn’t know much about prostate cancer. He was ignorant about the disease – like many of the 25 to 30 men he talks to and educates monthly when speaking on behalf of the Network.

He points out that prostate cancer is: the most common cancer in men, no matter race or ethnicity; the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic men; and more common in AfricanAmerican men compared to white men.

Ruby Bridges visits White House

Subject of historic Rockwell painting views it with Obama

By William Allman White House Curator

When Ruby Bridges visited the Oval Office on July 15, President Obama told her, “I think it’s fair to say that if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be here today.”

n “The doctor said, ‘Mr.

Clemons, you have the best cancer anyone can have.’”

For the ninth consecutive year, the Network is partnering with the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis to host the Prostate Cancer Survivors and Awareness Walk, which is Saturday, Aug. 20, beginning at 9 a.m. at Kiener Plaza. The walk follows a two-mile route, ending at the America’s Center where participants will receive free admission to the Missouri Black Expo. Walkers will interact with prostate cancer survivors, attend educational workshops, and receive more information about prostate cancer.

Males 35 years old or over can take advantage of a free and confidential Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test adminis-

As was the case with his diagnosis, Clemons stresses that early detection is the key because it’s more treatable. It’s vital that men – irrespective of ethnicity – visit their doctor and get screened, he said.

“One day, I’m diagnosed, wondering if I’m going to live or die,” said Clemons. “I lived, and now I see where I can benefit mankind.”

To register for the 9th Annual Prostate Cancer Survivors and Awareness Walk: visit www.100blackmenstl.org or http://www.pcswstl.org. Visit or mail a completed registration form and fee of $20 to: 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis, 4631 Delmar, St. Louis, MO 63108 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Or, contact the Empowerment Network, Inc., at 314-385-0998. The registration deadline is Wednesday, August 17. The first 1,000 people to register will receive a free Prostate Cancer Survivors and Awareness Walk tote bag.

November 14, 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of six-year-old Ruby’s historychanging walk to the William Franz Public School in New Orleans as part of court-ordered integration in 1960. Six years after the 1954 United States Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education declared that state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, this event represented a victory for the American Civil Rights Movement.

Bridges was at the White House to see how a painting commemorating this personal and historic milestone looks hanging on the wall outside of the Oval Office. American artist Norman Rockwell was criticized by some when this painting first appeared on the cover of Look magazine on January 14,1964; now the iconic portrait will be on display throughout the summer of 2011 in one of the most ex-

alted locations in the country. The president likes pictures that tell a story and this painting fits that bill. Norman Rockwell was a longtime supporter of the goals of equality and tolerance. In his early career, editorial policies governed the placement of minorities in his illustrations (restricting them to service industry positions only). However, in 1963 Rockwell confronted the issue of prejudice head-on with this, one of his most powerful paintings. Inspired by the story of Ruby Bridges and school integration, the image featured a young African-American girl being escorted to school by four U.S. marshals amidst signs of protest and fearful ignorance. The painting ushered in a new era in Rockwell’s ca-

reer and remains an important national symbol of the struggle for racial equality. Rockwell received letters of both praise and criticism from Look readers unused to such direct social commentary from the illustrator. Rockwell would revisit the theme of civil rights in several other illustrations from the period.

Ruby Bridges Hall now serves on the board of Norman Rockwell Museum and founded The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999 to promote the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences. She commended Rockwell for having “enough courage to step up to the plate and say I’m going to make a statement, and he did it in a very powerful way.”

President Barack Obama, Ruby Bridges, and representatives of the Norman Rockwell Museum view Rockwell’s “The Problem We All Live With,” hanging in a West Wing hallway near the Oval Office on July 15. Bridges is the girl portrayed in the painting.

(Official White House

Photo by Pete Souza)

EDITORIAL /COMMENTARY

Disparities in wealth a threat to the nation

As The St. Louis American publishes its largest edition in its 83-year history today, including a 68-page special section on “Diversity: A Business Imperative,” we are simultaneously confronted with the most disturbing economic data on African Americans (and Hispanics) in recent memory. This week the Pew Research Center reported that the median wealth of white households in the U.S. is 20 times that of black households and 18 times that of Hispanic households, based on data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau. Household wealth is the sum of assets (houses, cars, banking accounts, stocks and mutual funds, retirement accounts, etc.) minus the sum of debt (mortgages, auto loans, credit card debt, etc.). It is different from household income. Wealth gaps between whites, blacks and Hispanics have always been much greater than the respective income gaps, but the disparities reported this week are the largest since the government began publishing such data a quarter-century ago.

These troubling disparities lend a new and heightened urgency to our repeated call for policies that enable greater inclusion of African Americans and other under-represented minorities into the economic mainstream. Given that wealth data relect inancial habits as well as economic opportunity, the report also makes it perfectly clear that, informed by knowledgeable community inluentials, efforts to grow inancial literacy must virtually start from scratch in learning how to enlighten minority communities, not see them as outsiders, and integrate them more effectively into productive uses of their income.

These gross inequities also show the impact of bad decision-making by individuals who themselves must do more to understand better the dynamics of our economic system and learn how to participate in it productively as owners and investors, rather than simply as unwary and short-sighted consumers.

We say “unwary consumers,” because these gloomy numbers are the most recent evidence of predation on minority homeowners that was a signiicant catalyst in the meltdown of the housing market in 2006. Plummeting house values were the principal cause of fall in household wealth among all groups, with Hispanics and blacks hit hardest. From 2005 to 2009, the median level of home equity held by Hispanic homeowners declined by half – from $99,983 to

$49,145 – while black homeowners saw home values drop from $76,910 in 2005 to $59,000 in 2009. Among white homeowners, the decline was from $115,364 to $95,000.

Finally, consider these appalling statistics:

More than one-third of black (35 percent) and nearly one-third of Hispanic (31 percent) households had zero or negative net worth in 2009 (compared with 15 percent of white households). The fact that more than one-third of all AfricanAmerican households are worth literally nothing (or less than zero) economically is particularly disturbing for descendents of slavery’s implacable discrimination and humiliation and the subsequent corrosive effects that continue to manifest themselves today. The progress in growing a black middle class after the Civil Rights Movement was real, but now those gains are in peril as the economy shifted and public sector jobs are being cut.

We understand that we make the call for diversity and inclusion in a business ecosystem where these crucial concepts are sometimes scarcely more than buzzwords, much easier to mouth and to convene a committee around than to put into actual practice. Moreover, it is clear, given how far we have fallen and how far we have to go, that removing barriers and putting these concepts into practice will not be effortless or painless.

It must involve – as Sandra Jordan’s report on transformative changes in the Duke University Health System (see Diversity, pages 63-5) makes clear – taking risks, sharing power, upsetting applecarts and changing accepted ways of doing things that work just ine for many people who will oppose and resist the changes. The beneit of greater diversity and inclusion for American society, however, is collective, if we consider the challenges to our nation’s future iscal health and stability, which is tied so closely to more broad prosperity. Simply put, if minority communities in this country, with their huge and growing numbers, continue to fail economically in such large numbers, then this country will continue to lag in the global economy – become less competitive and less stable. This nation, out of enlightened self-interest, needs to change, at all levels, its attitude and modus operandi to assure that more of its people have the opportunity to make a contribution to their own personal, as well as the nation’s, future well being.

The deicit and Black America

COMMENTARY

The limits of compromise

Before we make political partisanship a felony, let’s remember that some choices are real, consequential and mutually exclusive.

I’m not talking about the kind of scorched-earth partisanship that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell espouses – the notion that Republicans should favor anything that’s politically harmful to Democrats, never mind what the impact on the country might be. “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a oneterm president,” McConnell said last year.

I’m talking about partisanship based on issues, policy options and incompatible philosophies about the nature and purpose of government. Powerful forces are pulling the nation in opposite directions. The danger of too much compromise is that we end up not moving at all.

A classic example is the attempt to restart the economy following the worst downturn since the Great Depression. When Obama took ofice, the crisis was acute; consumers and businesses were shell-shocked, and there was real danger of a self-reinforcing downward spiral. Any follower of British economist John Maynard Keynes – and Obama was being advised by dedicated Keynesians – had to recommend a very large pulse of government spending.

In the spirit of compromise, however, one-third of the stimulus package put forth by the White House consisted of tax cuts – which a Keynesian would say are much less stimulative than direct government spending. History will note that this nod toward bipartisanship did not inoculate the stimulus from constant criticism by Republicans, despite their eternal love for tax cuts. However, it likely diminished the effectiveness of the stimulus, thus giving Republicans ammunition for their claim that it didn’t work.

We are at a similar juncture right now. Conservatives and progressives should be able to agree that the long-term national debt of $14.3 trillion is a serious problem. Effective solutions, however, do not lend themselves to meet-in-the-middle compromise.

There are basically two ways to reduce the debt as a percentage of GDP: Cut government spending or make the economy grow. The problem is that doing more of one means doing less of the other.

Consumers are still wary of spending – understandable, given unemployment of more than 9 percent and real estate values that have not recovered from the crash. Businesses are sitting on an enormous hoard of cash that they are reluctant to spend.

Government, quite rightly, has stepped in to ill the gap. If we cut government spending too much, we pull the rug out from under the recovery – and increase the demand for costly government services such as unemployment insurance. We have to make a decision: Is the most important task right

ETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Humbled by Rev. Gillespie

The African Methodist Episcopal Church and its entire membership praise God for the ministry of Rev. William Gillespie a noble man who represented his God and faithfully served his people for more than a half century in the St. Louis community and the ecumenical world.

that warrant praise, healthcare and others. However, a major failing was apparent early in his presidency. He made a sincere effort to include Republicans in the legislative process. Thus he mingled with and cajoled snake oil salesmen and each time came away from the process with a boatload of snake oil.

now to grow the economy or cut spending? If we pretend to do both, we’ll end up doing neither.

Do we want a government that ensures medical care for senior citizens and the poor?

According to a recent Washington Post poll, 72 percent of Americans oppose cutting spending on Medicaid as a way to reduce the debt; 54 percent oppose raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. Do we want a government that provides retirees with an adequate baseline income?

Fifty-three percent of Americans oppose changes to Social Security that would reduce the rate at which beneits rise over time, according to the Post poll. These entitlements are sacred cows not just for Democrats but Republicans as well. Across both parties, Americans would rather see increased taxes on the well-to-do.

Far-right conservatives who harbor a radically different vision – of a much smaller government without the wherewithal to provide this kind of safety net – now control the House of Representatives and the Republican Party. In the debt- ceiling debate, they have rejected long-term solutions that have conceded most of what they demand. They want it all. Progressives who say no –who acknowledge that we must reduce the debt but in ways that do not kill economic growth or gut entitlements – are being partisan for the best possible reason: Much is subject to compromise, but not our future as a great nation.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@ washpost.com.

to see it expand its horizons somewhat.

Greg Gibson Via email

By the

Congressional

Black Caucus Foundation

NNPA Columnist

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As our leadership in Washington, D.C. seeks common ground over the nation’s debt limit, there are some real consequences at stake for the black community.

The debate on Capitol Hill is no longer philosophical, it’s real and the impact on African Americans and the poor could be devastating. With signiicant cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid being discussed, our nation’s social safety net is being shred and the quality of life for many of our friends, family and neighbors will be severely impacted. Cuts to Social Security beneits will increase hardships on already stressed seniors, while $250 billion in proposed Medicare cuts will force retirees to make decisions about their health care that might affect their well-being. The poor, disabled and elderly, already the

most vulnerable segment of our population, stand to be further disadvantaged if states are allowed to trim their Medicaid rolls through cutbacks to current levels of eligibility. At $14 trillion, there is no denying the nation’s deicit must be addressed. However, it is unconscionable that the most disadvantaged Americans are being asked to shoulder the burden. Sadly though, we ind ourselves in this predicament because too many of us ignore or dismiss important policy debates until it reaches a crisis state. Worse, somehow we have forgotten how we got in this mess and are on the verge of repeating the mistakes that put us in this predicament. Increasing tax cuts and the extension of those cuts, combined with spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have bankrupted our nation. The bill has now come due and those who have been hurt the most are being made scapegoats. Beyond raising the federal debt limit, we must raise the nation’s moral consciousness and restore fairness and balance to federal policymaking.

The bottom line – if we are not engaged in this debate, the responsibility for the nation’s deicit will fall upon the most vulnerable Americans.

Through our economic development initiatives, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation continues to advocate for job creation, small business development, home ownership, personal inancial management and wealth generation – the keys to restoring our economy and securing America’s future. What can you do? Get involved, share your thoughts with your member of Congress and the White House and voice your opinion. When citizens are informed, engaged and active participants in moving the country in the right direction, our nation is that much stronger. If you are interested in learning more about some of the issues addressed in this correspondence, follow the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research at the 41st Annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, September 21–24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. To lead, to serve, to listen to premier voices addressing critical issues facing African Americans, join us in Washington. To ind out more and to register, visit us on line at www. ALC11.org or visit www.cbcinc. org.

Dr. William Gillespie was a man of impeccable integrity, enormous inluence for positive progress in the greater St. Louis community and beyond. He was a person whose word was his bond and whose courage was fearless. He was respected as a clear thinking man who possessed a sanguine personality. He leaves a legacy of effective leadership indelibly written upon the landscape of St. Louis. He was a true change agent who made an immeasurable difference wherever he invested himself. Whenever there were issues to be negotiated and Rev. Gillispie was in the room, everyone knew truth would be spoken.

It was my privilege to work with Dr. Gillespie and to love and respect him for his genuineness. I regret I was not able to attend his Celebration of Life Service. I was not aware of Rev. Gillespie’s passing until a few hours ago, but I am humble to make these expressions

C. Garnett Henning Sr., Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church

Mediator, not leader

I, like millions of Americans, contributed to, worked for and voted for Barack Obama for president. We worked to elect an eloquent warrior as our leader, one who would – when necessary – lourish the banderole of social righteousness and ferociously attack those who oppose his noble proposals.

But President Obama has proven himself to be a mediator, not the social justice warrior – the consummate leader – we thought him to be. Obama has accomplishments

Our president also seems oblivious to one of the cardinal rules of legislative success: You always demand more than you expect to get. Obama’s healthcare legislation is a stellar example of failing to apply this rule. More recently: the Bush tax-cut debacle. The president of a nation inancially weary from Bush’s unfunded wars and the iscal idiocy of a moronic president, buys more snake oil!

President Obama has been diminished to the position of mediator, a station devoid of inluence. He stands between the Republicans, a group united regardless of the folly of their proposals, and the Democrats, a fragmented array of fools scurrying in every direction, and the president repeatedly tries to no avail to extract responsible legislation from this political quagmire.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Needed: expanded horizons

Unemployment will show signiicant signs of dropping in four to ive years. That’s when baby boomers will be retiring in record numbers. In fact, I predict that in six years there will be more people leaving the workforce via retirement than people entering the workforce. That will then create another problem. Job opportunities abound but go lacking for workers because too many of our young people did not graduate high school. I enjoy reading The St. Louis American and it is deserving of being recognized as one of the best weekly newspapers in the country. I hope that it will strive to build fences when possible. St. Louis needs a publication that focuses on issues affecting the African-American community. I would just like

L

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Thanking Herbert Hoover givers

Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club recently hosted a thank you reception for Mary Ann Lee and Emerson.Mary Ann Lee was honored for her generous gift to establish the E.Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Education and Career Development Program Fund.Emerson was honored for their gift of $500,000 that will be used towards the endowment for technology programs for teen Club members.

August 31 deadline for Young Visionary Award

The Youth Council for Positive Development is now accepting applications for the Jamala Rogers Young Visionary Award, which recognizes and supports young adults who have made efforts to promote social justice and human rights. The value of the 2011 award is $2,500. Applicants must be between the ages of 17-24 years old and reside in the St. Louis metropolitan area. They must already be enrolled or will enroll in a college or vocational institution this academic semester.

The applicant must submit a typed 500-750 word essay about a project s/he initiated that impacted public policy or laws, changed the quality of life for the community or initiated a project that impacted a particular issue or problem. Aletter is required from an adult associated with the program or project who can confirm its impact. The application package can also include photos, news clippings, etc. that document the effort.

The deadline for the application is August 31, 2011. Announcement of recipient will be September 15, 2011. The monetary award will be made directly to the institution the recipient is or will be attending. Contributions to the Visionary Award are also welcome.

For more information, visit www.positiveyouthdev.com or email ycpd_stl@yahoo.com.

KIPPstudent registration tours

KIPP: Inspire Academy has started its summer session and is opening its doors to families interested in enrolling their children for the 2011-2012 school year. KIPPInspire, which is located at 2647 Ohio Ave., will host informational school tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-11 a.m. To schedule your tour, contact Ms. Campbell, parent liaison, at 314-910-3226. For information on KIPPschools, visit www.kipp.org. You can also contact School Leader Jeremy Esposito at 314-223-9716 or jesposito@kippinspire.org.

Cancernetwork awarded forserving minorities

The American Cancer Society’s High Plains Division recently presented The Empowerment Network Inc. with the Harold P. Freeman Service award for serving the uninsured, underinsured, diagnosed and undiagnosed African-American men with prostate cancer in the city of St. Louis. Freeman is a past president of the ACS, who placed priority on issues relating to the underserved. The award is presented to individuals, groups, organizations or companies who demonstrate exemplary achievement in the areas of saving lives, diminishing suffering or improving quality of life from cancer in underserved, at-risk communities.

“The Empowerment Network, Inc. is dedicated to educating and offering resources in underserved populations about prostate cancer,” said Craig Boring, regional vice president of the Eastern Missouri Region for the American Cancer Society. “In 2010, more than 600 people were helped through their efforts, and we believe their new cancer center will only enhance TEN’s commitment to providing the community with cancer information.” – S. J.

Michele Bachmann and American slavery

By Linda Tarrant-Reid For the NNPA

Michele Bachmann, a Republican congressional representative from Minnesota, is running for president.Her “American Girl” looks and status as the “darling of the Tea Party Movement” seem to be keeping her in good stead with her vocal constituency. According to Florida’s St. Petersburg Times’fact-checking website, politifact.com, she has not gotten it right at least 19 times in recent statements.Her inaccuracy quotient includes a statement about how many barrels of oil President Obama released from oil reserves.Bachmann claimed the president released all of the oil reserve to abate escalating prices at the pump, when in reality Obama approved a release of 4 percent of the oil in storage.

Bachmann also got it wrong when she told conservative Iowan conference attendees that Obama’s administration had only issued one drilling permit since he came into office. Before the Gulf oil spill, the Obama administration had issued 217 drilling permits; after the spill and with new regulations in place, the Administration announced that they had granted more than 35 shallow-water permits; and since the moratorium on issuing deepwater well permits was lifted in October 2010, seven have been approved.

Bachmann’s most egregious gaffe was when she signed “The Marriage Vow: ADeclaration of Dependence upon Marriage and Family” to get the support of Bob Vander Plaat’s group, THE FAMiLYLEADER, their spelling not mine.Did she read the preamble?Her people say that she only signed the “candidate vow” page, so does that mean she didn’t read the whole document?Consider the words on the first page of the marriage pact, which were subsequently deleted when the blogosphere went wild:

“Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families,yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raisedby his mother and father in a two-parent household than was anAfrican-American baby born after the election of the USA’s firstAfrican-American president.”

Oh, my goodness!

In order to slam Obama, this conservative Christian organization took slavery, the vilest institution that was ever propagated in the U.S., and twisted the facts to make slavery a familyfriendly experience for enslaved Africans.

Anyone with just a little bit of knowledge about slavery knows that the families of the enslaved were deliberately wrenched apart by slaveholders to erode family support and destroy the kinship networks that made black people strong. Enslaved women were repeatedly raped and impregnated by the white slave-owners, creating a bastardized family unit into which more enslaved children were born.

In January, Bachmann said the founding fathers “worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States,” when of course, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had slaves and were dead by the time slavery ended in 1865.

Send your comments to Linda Tarrant-Reid, C/O The Westchester County Press, Post Office Box 152, White Plains, New York 10602.

Linda TarrantReid

Photo by Wiley Price

BFLexpands warrant amnesty program to St. Louis Community College

The Better Family Life

St. Louis Metropolitan Amnesty Program is expanding to two campuses of St Louis Community College this year.

“The Amnesty Project enables individuals to reengage within the workforce and educational systems by lifting all misdemeanor warrants,” said James Clark, BFL’s vice president of Community Outreach.

Vouchers are given to participants to settle their warrants without going to jail.

Organizers announced participating municipalities on Wednesday.

St. Louis area residents with misdemeanor warrants who wish to participate in this year’s amnesty program can go between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, August 6 to St. Louis Community College at Meramec- Theatre, 11333 Big Bend Road in Kirkwood. BFL Amnesty heads to The Ambassador Entertainment Center in North St. Louis County on Saturday August 10at 9800 Halls Ferry Blvd. and on Saturday, August 13,

the amnesty site will be held at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park in the gymnasium, located at 5600 Oakland Ave.

“Last year we distributed over 14,000 vouchers. With the support of the St. Louis Community College, we hope to help even more individuals,” Clark says.

WASH U

Continued from A1 opportunity to network with potential partners and funders.

“Oftentimes we don’t have the same resources as some of the larger companies,” Stovall said. “It puts us on the same level of gaining access to grant funds.”

Sponsored by the university’s Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, with support from the National Science Foundation Partners for Innovation program, “Diversity as a Catalyst for Innovation in the Sciences: Connecting Women and Underrepresented Innovators to Regional Resources” started at 7:30 a.m. and continued on into a cocktail reception and dinner at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education Center on the Danforth Campus.

“Our aim is to connect women and other minority groups with resources that can help them get their ideas off the ground,” says Kenneth A. Harrington, managing director of the Skandalaris Center.

The workshop offered three learning tracks for ideas related to energy and environment, information technology and biotechnology, as well as a fourth track for entrepreneurs who are further along with their idea and wish to pursue Small Business Innovation Research grant funding.

The keynote speaker Brenda Newberry, retired chair and founder of the Newberry Group, spoke on “Why Innovation and Diversity are Critical to the St. Louis Region: Reflections from a Real Entrepreneur of St. Louis.”

“I was pleasantly surprised that she brought issues of prejudice that many might find hard to discuss,” said Malcolm Townes, of the Missouri University at Rolla Science and Technology office.

Townes liked that she spoke about her own experience of starting a business as an African-American woman when the information technology field would not let her in.

“Her message was, ‘Don’t let that discourage you,’” Townes said. “There are lots of people that want to help you

out there.”

Overall Townes found the success stories of people on the panel discussions to be a great resource for him.

“Hopefully this is just the beginning, and we’ll see more events like this,” he said.

As part of the workshop, the center will publish and make available online a guidebook of resources available to innovators and entrepreneurs to connect them to existing innovation support systems in the St. Louis region.

The IdeaBounce featured 13 entrepreneurs pitching their ideas, followed by a reception and a dinner, all sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors. The ideas ranged from surgical devices to computerized bowling programs.

Innovate St. Louis mentoring service also provided support for the workshop.

“We hope this gathering of regional and national leaders will cause new relationships and build momentum for other events supporting women and minority science entrepreneurs in the Midwest,” Harrington said.

Brenda Newberry,founder of the Newberry Group,spoke on “Why Innovation and Diversity are Critical to the St.Louis Region”at Washington University’s Diversity Workshop on July 25.

Photo by Wiley Price

Continued from A1

mitment to using medicine to aid children thanks to Homer G. Phillips Hospital, the famed training ground for black doctors. She set up shop and never left. Before her retirement in the early 1990s, she had dedicated nearly 50 years to meeting the medical needs of young people in the St. Louis area.

The Atlanta native blazed a trail for her baby brother Dr. Homer Nash, who also followed their father’s footsteps as a doctor.

“There’s not a day that goes by when I’m at work seeing patients that somebody doesn’t tell me, ‘Dr. Helen Nash was my doctor’or ‘I was with Dr. Helen and now I’m bringing my grandchildren to you,’” Dr. Allison Nash said. “It’s such a connection in the St. Louis community, particularly that north side of the community.”

On Saturday afternoon at Cuisine d’Art restaurant in Creve Coeur, a small fraction of the lives she touched over the years joined for a celebration. Former colleagues, patients, family and friends came to honor her life as she turned 90.

“We’re very proud,” Dr. Helen Nash’s youngest sister Dorothy Nash Shack said. “She has always worked hard, and everybody knows her everywhere because she’s worked so much in this community.”

An affectionate showcase

It was a highly interactive celebration.

“Where did Helen go to college?” Tracy Nash Huntley asked.

“Spelman,” the crowd yelled out in unison.

“Where did Helen attend

BETTS

Continued from A1

sheriff consulted.

“He formulated the order on his own,” Guzy said.

Matt Murphy, public information officer at the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, said the presiding judge Steve Ohmer could not comment on his legal opinion of the order.

“The Circuit Court judges have no say over personnel policies in the Sheriff’s Office,” Murphy said.

Guzy said the sheriff has the right to write such an order under the state statute that cre-

medical school?” she asked.

“Meharry,” they fired back . They continued to shout out names and breeds of Dr. Helen Nash’s pets, types of automobiles and her favorite collections in an affectionate showcase of their beloved knowledge of her as a person and professional.

Most touching was the time allotted for family and friends – some had traveled from as far as California – to share stories and reflections.

“As her patient, she was my advocate. As my godmother, she opened doors and gave me insight into her dazzling world of beauty, grace and knowledge that was available to any-

ates the Office of the Sheriff. Covington said in his personal opinion, any kind of ordinance that would keep deputy sheriffs from campaigning for sheriff would be in violation of citizens’rights.

“I doubt it would stand the test of the courts,” Covington said.

However, as far as a procedural order, Covington said that the sheriff has the ability to hire and fire at will, under Chapter 57.275 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.

‘My constitutional right’

But does the sheriff’s right to fire employees trump the

“There’s not a day that goes by when I’m at work seeing patients that somebody doesn’t tell me, ‘Dr.Helen Nash was my doctor.’” – Dr.Allison Nash

one with curiosity, diligence and the ability to see,” godson Barry Smith said.

“Helen has always been an elegant being. Disciplined in her choices, unflinching when faced with the challenges of life and yet certain in her sense of the great adventure.”

Awide range of individuals from all age groups and walks of life were eager to share their

employees’rights to the electoral process? Betts says no.

“I have the right to run for sheriff,” Betts said. “It’s my constitutional right.”

Betts said he started talking with the Missouri Ethics Commission about three weeks ago, and they suggested that he start with an exploratory campaign. He said he printed business cards and spent one weekend walking neighborhoods in the Central West End and South City. “In the course of all that, I gave the card to someone who knew the sheriff,” Betts said.

However, Michael O’Reilly, the sheriff’s attorney, disagreed with Betts’assessment of his

bond with the beloved doctor.

“Helen and I got to know each other because she asked who it would be safe to refer black people to and they told her I was safe,” said psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Nettles.

“And so there were times when my practice has been 50 percent black. And we’ve been really good friends for many years.”

rights.

“Running for office is a not a protected right that trumps the administrator of the police department,” O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly said deputies are employees at will, according to state law, which means that they have some procedural rights but largely the sheriff can fire anyone for any reason. However, the sheriff cannot fire someone based on his or her race or religion.

O’Reilly said Murphy wrote the order after Judge David Dowd issued a similar order regarding courthouse employees and political activities, which was even broader than the sheriff’s order.

Dr.Helen Nash was joined by a large group of colleagues, patients, family and friends for her 90th birthday celebration Saturday afternoon at Cuisine d’Art restaurant in Creve Coeur.

Dr. Nettles also spoke on behalf of their mutual close friend Ethel, who was out of town.

“Ethel brought Kenneth, her youngest son, to see Helen because she had stomach aches and she taken him to see other doctors – but Helen had always been half psychiatrist and half pediatrician,” Nettles said.

“She thought to ask what brought on the stomach aches, and she learned that his stomach had been hurting ever since Charles died. Charles was Ethel’s middle son. He came home his freshman year of college was diagnosed with leukemia and died two weeks

Since Murphy was elected in 1988, he has faced criticism regarding discrimination.

In September 2010, two of his African-American deputies successful sued Murphy for supporting a racially hostile work environment when he refused to discipline three other employees who hung a noose from some pipes in the St. Louis Civil Courts building in 2006, near where prisoners were held.

“She has always worked hard, and everybody knows her everywhere because she’s worked so much in this community.”

– Dorothy Nash Shack

after being diagnosed. Helen told Ethel to go home, take out all of the pictures of Charles, go to the cemetery and grieve him properly. And that’s what cured the stomach ache.”

Her influence stretched to an employee of the Kinko’s where her 90th birthday picture collage and bookmarks were printed.

“She kept kind of hovering and worked up the nerve to say, ‘Who is that in this picture,’Dr. Helen Nash’s greatniece Candice said. “I said, ‘That’s my Aunt Helen.’She said, ‘No, the last name.’I said, ‘Helen Nash.’”

The Kinko’s employees said, “Dr. Nash! Tell her Jerry Macklin, Mary Macklin’s daughter, said hello!”

Another niece felt the reach of her aunt’s influence while in an emergency room in Seattle.

“Several people in the E.R. who had done rotations with you and worked with you at Children’s Hospital, they were like, ‘Oh, this is Helen’s niece, we have to make sure she’s well taken care of,” Terrell Nash Mann said.

“These weren’t patients; they were young physicians that you had touched. All of them were just singing your praises.”

Dr. Helen Nash’s sister knows that experience.

“I can walk around certain places, and people will think that I’m Helen and they know that we’re related,” Shack said. “She’s thrown a wide web, and people remember her. How could they forget?”

The lawsuit also found that Murphy passed over black employees for promotions and gave those promotions to white employees. Plaintiffs William “Pat” Hill and Jacques Hughes also successfully argued that they were retaliated against for complaining about the racial problems.

Office organization is also not Murphy’s strong suit, according to reports of public audits. Last year, among many other administrative lapses, state Auditor Susan Montee discovered that the department had no record-keeping system in place for monitoring Murphy’s sick leave accruals. The audit showed that Murphy has 191 accumulated days of sick leave, some of which could be cashed out when he retires for an immediate payment of over $11,000.

Photo by Kenya Vaughn

Nixon flies Aerotropolis flag, finally

St. Louis was the venue for some prime political theater last week, as Republican leaders in the Missouri Legislature gathered at Lambert airport with Mayor Francis G. Slay to announce they had hammered out their disagreements over tax credits and were ready to send the governor a completed economic development bill, should they be called back for a special session.

Gov. Jay Nixon almost immediately announced that he would call a special session in September. His previously scheduled press conference for the following day at the Danforth Plant Science Center (see Business, B1) was then partly revamped as a forum to talk about the special session and the economic development bill.

St. Louis provided the venue for this political theater primarily because the stalled eco devo bill has bundled in it the Aerotropolis incentives –$360 million in state tax credits designed to transform St. Louis into a major international air cargo hub.

Given that the legislators who worked out their differences on this bill were Republicans, it is no surprise that the poor took the hardest hit in the dealmaking. As The Beacon reported, state Rep. Rory Ellinger, D-University City, said “he was concerned that the tax credit programs getting the ax would be primarily those helping the poor.”

“As a progressive, I want to make sure this is not being done on the backs of low-

income people,” Ellinger said. State Rep. Clem Smith, a Democrat from North County, made similar remarks to The American on Thursday at Nixon’s press event. There are some high-wire politics ahead on this issue, even now that Republican legislators say they have worked out their differences.

Progressives like Smith and Ellinger – and that list could be extended considerably – will need to look further down the road (or runway) to envision the long-term, potentially transformative benefits for this economically lagging region encoded in the Aerotropolis incentives.

They are tasked to understand that new tax credits for businessmen investing near the airport, in this case, may do much more over time for the region and its people (even the poor people) than existing tax credits for the poor, given the vast unused potential of the St. Louis airport, our other transportation modalities and the educated workforce our universities produce.

Slay and Jay African-American legislators are placed in the double-bind of lining up behind Mayor Slay when they embrace Aerotropolis. Slay and his Chief of Staff Jeff Rainford – along with RCGA leader Dick Fleming – were early and enthusiastic advocates of Aerotropolis and the Midwest-China Hub, to which the incentives are closely

Last Thursday Gov. Jay Nixon revamped a previously scheduled press event at the Danforth Plant Science Center to talk about the special session of the Missouri Legislature he said he would call immediatedly after Republican leaders in the Legislature announced they had hammered out their disagreements over tax credits and were ready to send the governor a completed economic development bill.

tied. Rainford’s hard work in soothing the historic tax preservation lobby at the end of last session even earned him some rare, but well-deserved, praise in the EYE, raising an eye among some of the more typically Slay-sympathetic journalists on Rainford’s speeddial list, like David Hunn of The Post African Americans in St. Louis have good reason to be wary of this mayoral administration, for a long list of reasons that have been covered extensively here – and, in most cases, only here. When Nixon opposed Aerotropolis, covertly, he could use Slay against the project when trying to keep black legislators on his side. Now that Nixon has put on his China mask and joined the Aerotropolis team, at least outwardly, he will continue to oppose Slay on some of the

critical details – and can be expected to use Slay, again, when trying to keep black legislators on his side during the tussles ahead.

Chief and hub

If Slay and Rainford were wrong on the Fire Chief Sherman George case, and more recently wrong on the speed bumps in O’Fallon Park bill (to name just two examples), they were right on Aerotropolis and the China Hub, and are substantially right on the details of how this deal should go down to have the maximum positive impact on this region.

MLK Day 2008, when Slay was chanted down by the community at the Old Courthouse for his bungling of the Chief George case, is a

fantasy.

100 acres and an elephant

Then you have the 7,000pound elephant at this deal table: a significant landowner near the airport who is also a significant funder of Peter Kinder, Nixon’s presumptive Republican opponent in 2012. According to one reasonable understanding of Nixon’s approach to the details on Aerotropolis, Nixon wants the state to control the administration of tax credits, in large part, to reward his friends and starve his enemies – and his list of enemies would begin with the friends of Kinder.

Far more than the respective roles of Nixon and Slay, this could be deal-breaker material here. The development, lending and investment communities – who have considerable stick with Republican legislators – have already seen how Nixon can arbitrarily slow or prevent the implementation of existing programs or projects he does not like, based upon the involvement of major players he does not like, even when those projects have local development support and approvals.

part of our political history and it stays on Slay’s resume. But his administration’s hard work on Aerotropolis and the China Hub – if they succeed, along with the (mostly) Republicans who have led the charge – has the possibility of providing a transformative positive turning point for the economic prosperity of this region. It could put a very strong positive point on Slay’s resume. On this issue, Slay and his forwardthinking leadership warrant the unequivocal solidarity of the black community and the legislators who represent that community.

To say the least, it is no easy task to expect Democratic legislators to oppose a Democratic sitting governor who is almost certain to be reelected next year. If for no other reason, in an era of term limits, Democratic legislators see future jobs when they look at a Democratic governor, and as much as we might want our legislators to place the future of our region over their own personal political career, we are talking about reality, not

Note that with the Historic Tax Credit program, the governor has never controlled the designation of which historic buildings are to be rehabilitated – this means he has not controlled many millions of dollars in tax credit awards. Yet he seems to be obsessed with controlling (and, presumably, narrowing) which of the 10,000 acres that will qualify for tax credits under Aerotropolis as written.

An area qualifies for the credit if it is 100 acres or more and within 50 miles of the airport, when more acreage (not less) would appear to be in the best interest of creating competition and reducing land cost – and reduced land cost indisputably would make for a more efficient use of the credit.

The political theater is entering, say, its third act. The going will get tougher, and the theater will get more dramatic, before the deal is done. But the stakes are very high. If St. Louis truly understands what is in its best interests, it will keep a close eye on Jay Nixon and how he plays this out.

Photo by Wiley Price

Derek L. Hudson

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane; I’d walk right up to heaven and bring you down again. I miss you so much.

Love, Your Mother

Olive Virginia Lonesome

Olive Virginia Lonesome was born on August 15, 1934 to the union of William and Arnetta Clarke in Texarkana, AR. She moved to St. Louis MO in 1952 to attend Tucker Business College. She met and married Milton V. (Buddy) Lonesome who predeceased her in 1980. Two wonderful daughters, Sheila and Alison, were born to this union. Olive was a civilian employee for the Army Aviation System Command (AVSCO) for 10 years. After her youngest daughter started school, she began working for Moog/Federal Mogul; where she dedicated 26 years until her retirement.

A talented Bridge player, Olive enjoyed meeting regularly with multiple Bridge groups, including her weekly session

OBITUARIES

at Richmond Heights Community Center and the Wednesday Night Bridge Club. Olive fought a battle with several medical issues, including anemia and an enduring knee replacement. She received an ultimate healing when she crossed over into her gloriied body at 8:20 a.m. on July 2, 2011. Left to cherish her memory are two loving daughters, Sheila Kay Sanford of Dallas, TX and Alison Lonesome Rodriguez (Marco) of Chicago, IL; two grandchildren, Kiersten Danielle Sanford and Nathaniel Xavier Rodriguez; and a host of nephews, nieces, extended family and treasured friends.

William L. Slaten

William L. Bill Slaten was born on May 23, 1922 in St. Louis, MO., and departed this life on July 14, 2011, at Mother of Good Counsel Nursing Home in St. Louis County, MO. He was the second of six children born to Mary Clack Slaten and Fred D. Slaten, Sr. Bill lived in Meacham Park (Kirkwood), MO. He attended James Milton Turner School and Douglass High in Webster Groves. He was united in marriage to Ossie B. “Butch” in 1959 and moved to St. Louis.

He we preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two brothers, Alfred Slaten and Fred Slaten; two sisters, Juanita Motley and Ethel Bowers; nephews Ronald Slaten and Walter Slaten; and a niece, Linda Lucente. He leaves to mourn his passing a sister, Mary Bryant; a nephew, George Robnett; nieces, Karen (William) Smith, Sharon (Anthony) Carter, Louisde Nicholson,

Sheila Slaten, Wanda (James) Moor and Denise Taylor; sisterin-laws, Mary Florence Slaten, and Marcella Slaten; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and a special greatgreat niece, Sidney Rusan.

Bill was active in many civic and social organizations including Jack Ming American Legion Post #269; Past President of the Federation of Block Units, Organizer of Block Unit 194B, Chair and Mentor of Area Council B, Volunteer at Mother of Good Counsel Nursing Home, Board Member of Tower Village Nursing Home, Member of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Urban League and Urban League volunteer for more than 30 years.

Funeral Services were held at Grace Episcopal Church, 514 E. Argonne, Kirkwood, MO. The family requested that donations be made to Olive Chapel A.M.E. Church in lieu of lowers.

Gerald Kenneth Laster

A lover of music and dedicated family man, Gerald Kenneth Laster departed this life peacefully at his home in Rock Hill, MO on July 18, 2011. Services were held Monday, July 25 at Unity United Methodist Church in Webster Groves. Mr. Laster was born August 26, 1931, the eldest son of Lawrence Gerald and Marie Laster. His parents and brother, Lawrence Phillip Laster, preceded him in death. Mr. Laster attended Marshall Elementary, Sumner High, and Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO.

After being drafted in the

U.S. Army, he served a tour of duty in Puerto Rico and played in the U.S. Army Band. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned to St. Louis to marry his high school sweetheart and life partner, Lois Moore on May 25, 1957. He resumed his studies at Lincoln University where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1959. His career as an educator in the St. Louis Public School District spanned over 30 years. He taught at various schools including Soldan High, Stowe Middle, Enright Middle and Blewett Elementary Schools. He retired from Cleveland Military Academy as Music Director. He was the irst civilian instructor trained by the U.S. Navy to direct a military band.

Mr. Laster was a member of Unity United Methodist Church, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfornia International Music Fraternity, and the NAACP.

Mr. Laster was an enthusiast of classical, jazz, R&B, and other music genres. He welcomed the challenge of history trivia, board games, crossword puzzles, and the intrigue of science iction. He also enjoyed photography and collecting model cars. A great conversationalist he welcomed the opportunity to share his wisdom, sense of humor, and passions with friends and family.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, he leaves a rich legacy of love and support to his children Lawrence Gerald (Nikita) Laster II; Lisa Marie (Marlon) Mozee; and Kenneth Andrew and grandchildren Xavier Lawrence and Alexis Laster.

He also leaves two sistersin-law, four brothers-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends. Memorial contributions can be made to the Lincoln University Alumni Association Scholarship Fund - Greater St. Louis Chapter, c/o Janet White, Treasurer, 1308 Grant Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132.

Attention St. Louis

American Readers

As a service to the community, we list obituaries in the St. Louis American Newspaper, on a spaceavailable basis and online at stlamerican.com AT NO CHARGE. Please send all obituary notices to kdaniel@stlamerican.com.

New sheriff at District 189

For the irst time in years, East St. Louis School District 189 is beginning to show glimmers of hope and progress with the arrival of Jed Deets.

Deets, former superintendent of Cahokia School District 187, was recently appointed by the State of Illinois as the interim superintendent of School District 189, and some would say that he has his work cut out for him.

However, with a reputation as a highly competent superintendent for Cahokia (both iscally and academically), Deets produced success for Cahokia in terms of exceptional results in the classroom and in unifying Cahokia’s parents and community leadership. That’s good news for ESL.

And, facing a projected $18 million annual budget deicit, Deets has managed to hit the ground running with a combination of layoffs and cuts which are projected to erase that deicit entirely.

identifying speciic needs for all schools, implementing a plan for school board member training, preparing a corrective plan for noncompliance to meet state requirements, adopting short and long-term iscal plans and creating a facilities plan for the district. The only piece missing from Deets’ plan is a forensic investigation into corruption in School District 189.

James Ingram

Most of the cuts are common-sense elimination of personnel and services, which ESL School Board members refused to implement due to the sad reality that many of the individuals were either relatives, cronies, “jumpoffs,” “hook-ups” or so-called “consultants.”

Those cuts combined earlier teacher layoffs with two rounds of job eliminations of noncertiied or nonteaching positions. Some of the positions cut included teacher aides, custodians, and a director of security under whose watch 100 laptop computers were stolen from buildings with improperly installed surveillance cameras (he needed to go).

All told, approximately $18 million in debt was erased and this guy is just getting warmed up.

Deets also has announced that the state and local board have agreed on a six-point plan, including: improving programs in all schools,

You see, the problem with ESL Schools is that between the last oversight of the district and the current one, many of the same board members (due to voter apathy and a healthy dose of, I suspect, vote fraud) have remained, only to return to their wicked ways as soon as no one was looking over their shoulders, thus the current state takeover. Rumors have abounded for decades that, in ESL, many teachers and consultants “pay-to-play”, i.e., many pay in order to be employed, promoted or “hooked-up” with lucrative consulting contracts. That opens the door for kickbacks to the respective board members or superintendents who vote on such personnel and business matters.

Those rumors need to, either, be put to rest or investigated thoroughly with the guilty parties prosecuted and removed. That alone would restore a degree of morale and integrity to School District 189. And morale and integrity are priceless, especially in East Boogie. Since the voters of ESL, for whatever reason, won’t solve the problem at the ballot box, this may be the only way of, at least, beginning to eliminate the individuals who are responsible for the problems which have plagued ESL schools for decades. I believe that Jed Deets is smart enough to realize that fact and I look forward to progress in this key area as well.

Email: jtingram_1960@ yahoo.com.

Olive Lonesome

William L. Slaten

Gerald Laster

Derek Hudson

July 30

This Week in Black History

1863 – President Abraham Lincoln issues his famous “eye-for-an-eye” order. The order was basically a threat aimed at stopping the Confederate practice of killing captured Black soldiers instead of imprisoning them. Lincoln threatened to kill one captured rebel soldier for every Black soldier killed by the Confederates. In addition, he pledged to condemn one captured rebel soldier to life in prison at hard labor for every captured Black soldier sold into slavery by the rebelling Southerners. The order did not stop the Confederate practice of killing captured Black soldiers but it did have a restraining effect.

1945 – Activist minister Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. is elected to Congress from Harlem, New York becoming one of only two Blacks in Congress. The other was William Dawson of Chicago. Powell, however, would become the irst truly powerful Black political igure on Capitol Hill. By 1961, he headed the inluential Education and Labor Committee in the House of Representatives. Powell would steer over 50 pieces of legislation through Congress. He also passed legislation making lynching a federal crime and bills to desegregate public schools and the military. In addition, he almost single handedly stopped Southern Congressmen from using the word “Nigger” during sessions of Congress. Despite his political inluence, Powell constantly maintained that “Mass action is the most powerful force on earth.” He died on April 4, 1972.

July 31

1874 – Father Patrick Francis Healy becomes the irst Black president of a major white university when he is inaugurated on this day as president of Georgetown University. Healy

was also the irst African American to earn a Ph.D. However, racial prejudice forced him to earn his degree in Europe not the United States. Healy was born in Macon, Georgia in 1834 to a Black slave woman and a white plantation owner who decided to acknowledge his ive bi-racial children. They were all sent north to be educated. Although some felt he could have passed for white, Healy openly acknowledged his African ancestry. Healy died in 1910.

1960 – Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad calls for an allBlack state in America during a speech in New York City. Muhammad was a fearless critic of American discrimination against and mistreatment of Blacks and he also advocated independent, Black owned businesses, institutions and religion.

August 1

1619 – This is possibly the day that the history of Blacks in America begins. However, no one knows for sure the exact day that the ship arrived in Jamestown, Virginia carrying at least 20 Africans who were sold as indentured servants. There is some authority that the ship arrived in late August. All that appears certain is that the month was August and the year was 1619 – the beginning of Black history in America.

1834 – Slavery is oficially abolished in all British territories. It would take another 31 years and a Civil War before it was abolished in America.

1920 – The national convention of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) begins at Liberty Hall in Harlem, New York. The next night Garvey addresses over 25,000 Blacks at Madison Square Garden. This period represented the height of the Garvey movement and the Black nationalism (non inte-

gration with whites) tendency within Black America. Garvey built the largest Black mass movement in history advocating Black pride, independent Black businesses and institutions as well as a strong and united Africa. He also brought motivation and showmanship unlike that of any other Black organization before or since.

August 2

1924 – A man who would grow up to become one of the most proliic and complex Black writers of the 20th Century is born on this day in New York City. James A. Baldwin was a novelist, short story writer and poet. His works frequently had racial and sexual themes. In addition, he penned powerful essays on the Civil Rights Movement. Baldwin’s homosexuality is believed by many to have been a result of being raised by a “hard and often brutal father” and a submissive mother. Among his best known works are “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Giovanni’s Room,” and “The Fire Next Time.” In that last book, he predicted major upheavals in America if profound efforts were not taken to resolve the nation’s racial problems. He wrote, “If we do not now dare everything, the fulillment of that prophecy, recreated from the Bible in song by a slave, is upon us. God gave Noah the Rainbow sigh, no more water, the ire next time.” Baldwin died in France on November 30, 1987.

1980 – Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns wins the WBA welterweight title. It was one of the titles he won in ive different weight classes. Hearns was the irst Black boxer to achieve that feat.

August 3

1928 – The Atlanta Daily World begins publication as the irst Black daily newspaper in modern times. It was founded by William A. Scott, III. Amazingly, the irst Black daily newspaper in history – the New Orleans Tribune – was founded one year before the end of slavery in 1864.

August 4

1901 – Legendary Jazz trumpeter Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong is born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Abandoned by his desperately poor parents, he was for a while a ward of the

state. But by 1922, he followed the migration of Blacks to the North and ended up in Chicago where his Jazz skills really began to develop. Armstrong was frequently criticized for trying too hard to please his white audiences. Song stylist Billie Holliday once said of him, “Sure Satchmo toms but he toms from the heart.” Nevertheless, he would later become a major inancial backer of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. In addition in 1957, he backed out of a State Department sponsored tour of the then Soviet Union declaring, “The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell!” Armstrong would die on July 6, 1971.

1931 – Pioneering physician

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams dies The Pennsylvania born Williams was a principle founder of Chicago’s Provident Hospital and helped train many of the nation’s early Black doctors and nurses. But he is probably best known for performing America’s irst successful open heart surgery. His patient – a young Black man named James Cornish – would live for another 20 years after the surgery.

August 5

1865 – President Andrew Johnson reverses an order giving land abandoned or coniscated from slave-owning whites to former Black slaves. The order – Special Field Order #15 – had been issued in January by conquering Union Major General William T. Sherman as he and his troops marched through the South. Over 40,000 ex-slaves had received over 400,000 acres of land in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. But after Lincoln was assassinated, Johnson reversed the order and returned the land to the whites. Johnson, a Southerner, did much to reverse the policies of Lincoln and stile progress for Blacks. Indeed, an argument can be made that President Andrew Johnson had a more negative post-Civil War impact on Black progress than any president in American history.

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

Putting democracy in the Democratic Party

For years, I have joined many others in advancing the position that the Democratic Party is not the only game in town. Working people of all hues have invested a lot of time and energy into the party because they have high hopes for the party carrying out its commitment to us. Our strategy must be a dual one: Fighting inside the party to ensure it upholds it mission and carries out it platform while at the same time building an independent force outside the party to represent our collective self-interests and put external pressure on the party. There is historical precedence for this electoral strategy as it relates to African Americans and others. You had the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), a courageous effort by the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee and others to establish presence and participation at the 1964 Democratic Convention. There was also the Peace and Freedom Party, a basically West Coast effort to establish a third party and which still exists. Some may remember it as the party that some Black Panthers ran on during the height of their community organizing. There were also groups like the National Black Assembly (NBA) and the National Black Independent Political Party (NBIPP). One of the factors that lead to the demise of the NBA was the undermining by a bloc of black elected oficials. The success of such groups may be uneven but the sentiment that we must have a presence outside the Democratic Party has been an enduring one. Many in the black community have been disillusioned by the lack of solidarity with local Democratic leaders to impact our quality of life. Under their 50-state Strategy, the party claims to be committed to building the party “from the ground up, in every single precinct in the country,” providing resources for things like candidate recruitment and voter registration – key elements for building a cohesive

base for electoral successes. Where such a strategy is happening is St. Louis is not exactly obvious, although many can relate to the “ground up” phrase above as in grinding up people and initiatives that threaten the self-serving political agendas of ofice-holding Democrats. One aspect that is becoming troubling is the way the redistricting map has been playing out for the last couple of Census cycles. A disturbing trend seems to be emerging and that is that black women are being targeted for elimination. This happened after 1990 when Aldermanic candidate Kayla Mays Madkins’ block was taken out of the 22nd Ward, after 2000 when Alderwoman Sharon Tyus’ entire ward was obliterated and relocated to South City, and most recently with Committeewoman Angela Newsome’s block being taken out of the 26th Ward. On the state level, Democrats couldn’t get it together either and are stuck with a map basically drawn to strengthen the Republican Party and a few select Dems. At a time when our communities are hardest hit by housing foreclosures, high unemployment, attacks on all levels of education and the list goes on, we need a united strategy in the face of a Republican agenda that threatens the economic and political progress of oppressed citizens. We still must hold all of our elected oficials accountable (even if we didn’t vote them and even when they don’t speciically represent us) or we can continue to expect the crumbs we get. To simplify, we must support those who support us especially in this time of crisis. The words of Mississippi NAACP Chair Aaron Henry ring true today, when the white state Democratic Party picked two people from the newly formed MFDP to be seated as at-large delegates at the National Democratic Convention in 1964. The racist plan was soundly rejected. Said Henry, “This is typical white man picking black folks’ leaders, and that day is just gone.”

Jamala Rogers

Abraham Lincoln

Elijah Muhammad Marcus Garvey

Andrew Johnson

James Baldwin

Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

By Melanie Adams

‘Southern trees bear strange fruit’

History Museum screens documentary on lynching

Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black body swinging in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Poem by Abel

Meeropol

Written in 1936 by a Jewish high school teacher from the Bronx, the poem Strange Fruit condemned the lynching of African Americans that was taking place across the country. Mr. Meeropol and his wife set the poem to music and performed the piece at protest rallies and even New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Billie Holiday was introduced to the song in 1939 and later made the recording that made the song famous. There is some dispute over the collaboration of setting the poem to music, whether it was Meeropol or Meeropol and Holiday together. Regardless of who set it to music, the song became most associated with Ms. Holiday and became her signature closing number. It is no secret that America’s racial past is illed with unspeakable acts of violence against African Americans. Whether it is the violence of slavery or the violence of the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans have endured more than their fair share of violence. If you could create a hierarchy of violence that was perpetrated against African Americans, lynching and its mere threat would be at the top of the pyramid. Even today, a noose hanging from a locker or a tree is perceived as

a tangible threat to be taking seriously.

While reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkinson, I discovered that one of the main reasons African Americans were leaving the South was due to the violence and the threat of violence. This reason is in direct contrast to what most people learn about the Great Migration. Most scholars will say that the Great Migration of African Americans out of the south was due to better job opportunities in the North. If not for job opportunities, they were leaving the south for a future for their children that did not involve Jim Crowe. These might have been some reasons, but after countless research and interviews, Ms. Wilkinson showed that violence was a stronger motivator than any Northern factory jobs. The Urban League of Chicago noted that it could tell when a lynching occurred in a southern town because they would get an inlux of migrants from that town. One of the main igures in the book, George Stallings,

Jazz great Billie Holiday, who immortalized the anti-lunching song “Strange Fruit”

Role of judge critical in drug courts

Five-year study reports attitude from bench impacts offenders

American staff

The most extensive study of drug courts – a ive-year examination of 23 courts and six comparison jurisdictions in eight states – found that these programs can signiicantly decrease drug use and criminal behavior, with positive outcomes ramping upward as participants sensed their judge treated them more fairly, showed greater respect and interest in them, and gave them more chances to talk during courtroom proceedings.

escaped from Florida under the cover of night because he was only days away from getting caught and lynched for asking for ten cents more a crate to pick oranges. Today, we may not have the actual lynching, but we have people who will use the power of the noose to simulate the threat of violence. Most notable was the situation in 2006 in Louisana with the Jena 6. A group of white students hung nooses from trees near where African Americans congregated. This caused the African American students to react in a way that was deemed inappropriate by the school and all of a sudden they were the students in trouble with the law. The Jena 6 became a national civil rights struggle involving the NAACP and Civil Rights leaders.

In conjunction with America I Am: The African American Imprint, the museum in partnership with the AntiDefamation League’s A World of Difference Institute will be showing the documentary Strange Fruit. This documentary explores both the history

and legacy of the song by the same title. The documentary brings viewers face to face with the terror of lynching, while spotlighting the heroism of those who fought for racial justice.

Because of the sensitive nature of the topic and the graphic language and content, the program is suggested for mature audiences. This being said, I believe this is a great opportunity for young people to learn about the history of racial violence in this country. The more they know about and understand the past, the less likely they are to repeat it. After the documentary there will be an audience discussion aimed at allowing viewers to discuss the dificult topic of race and violence and how they are still with us today.

Strange Fruit

Thursday, July 21, 2011

7 p.m.

FREE Lee Auditorium

“Judges who spend time with participants, support them, and treat them with respect are the ones who get results,” said the Urban Institute’s Shelli Rossman, who led the research team from the Institute’s Justice Policy Center, the Center for Court Innovation and RTI International. Drug court partici-pants who had more status hearings with the judge and received more praise from the judge later reported committing fewer crimes and using drugs less often than those who had less contact and praise.

While drug court costs are higher than standard case processing, they save money, the study determined, by signiicantly reducing the number of crimes, re-arrests and days incarcerated. Drug courts save an average of $5,680 per participant, returning a net beneit of $2 for every $1 spent.

Drug courts emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s as drug arrests and prosecutions exploded, overwhelming traditional courts’ capacity.

The Multi-Site Adult Drug Court Evaluation, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice, was conducted in two phases.

The irst, in 2004, surveyed 380 drug courts, more than half of which required both an eligible charge and a clinical assessment for offenders to enroll.

Few courts allowed participants with prior convictions for violent misdemeanor or felony offenses. More than a third of courts served only those who

were diagnosed as addicted to or dependent on drugs; others also served regular users or those with any level of use. In the study’s second phase, researchers selected 23 drug courts in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington, and six comparison sites in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and Washington. Between March 2005 and fall 2009, the team visited each location multiple times to document program characteristics and operations; interviewed a sample of 1,156 drug court participants and 625 comparison group members as many as three times; administered a drug test at the 18-month mark; and obtained criminal histories, recidivism data, and budget information from state agencies and the FBI. Drug court participants who perceived the consequences of failing the program as more undesirable engaged in less substance use and crime. And those who received more judicial supervision and drug testing, or who attended more than 35 days of substance abuse treatment, reported fewer crimes and fewer days of drug use. Relative to similar offenders in the comparison group, those initially reporting more frequent drug use showed a larger reduction in drug use at the 18-month interview. The researchers recommend that judges hold frequent judicial status hearings, especially for high-risk participants; administrators assign judges who are committed to the drug court model; judges get training on best practices regarding judicial demeanor and effective communication with participants; courts broaden participant eligibility, particularly to include those with mental health problems and histories of violent offenses; programs include suficient drug treatment; and courts administer drug tests more than once a week during the program’s initial phase.

BUSINESS

Baking – and selling –with angels

Angel Baked Cookies provides youth with work and spiritual training

By Ashley Westbrook For The St.Louis

American

Angel Baked Cookies, where the secret recipe is prayer, is an after-school program in North St. Louis that creates job opportunities for inner-city teenagers through baking and selling cookies. Teenagers in the area are provided with an opportunity to work in the kitchen basement of Saints Teresa and Bridget Catholic Church, 2401 N. Grand Blvd. Father Gary

“It gives them job training as well as spiritual training.”

– Father Gary Meier

Meier, the founder of Angel Baked Cookies, believes the program supplies more than a working opportunity.

“It gives them job training as well as spiri-

See photo essay on stlamerican.com.

tual training,” Meier said. “It teaches them how to be a good person.”

Though Angel Baked Cookies is located in a Catholic church and many of the employees worship in that religion, every-

See COOKIES, B2

GOV. NIXONSAYSHE WILLCALLSPECIALSESSION

Aerotropolis and other economic issues will be on agenda

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

Gov. Jay Nixon intends to call legislators into special session in September to iron out three initiatives in the economic development bill, he said at a July 21 press conference held at the Danforth Plant Science Center.

“We need bold vision and competitive spirit again, because we aren’t competing against one Cold War arch-enemy: we are competing against the world,” Nixon said.

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

Bailey

Katherine Bailey is the new executive director for Educational Opportunity Programs at the Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis.She will direct three TRIO programs funded to assist underrepresented students, particularly first-generation and low-income, in accessing higher education.She has over 25 years of experience working in secondary, vocational and higher education and with various federally funded programs.

William Sholar has joined the Jos ABank clothing company as the master tailor at the Fairview Heights, Ill. location. Acertified master tailor since 1985, Sholar comes to the St. Louis area from the Marine Corps Association, Quantico, Va./Washington, D.C. Sholar is a graduate of Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn. He also worked as a field supervisor in Quantico for the Barack Obama presidential election campaign in 2008.

Melanie Powell-Robinson has joined the Riverview Gardens School District as director of communications. She previously served as executive director of marketing for Robinson Consultants, vice president of sales and marketing for Compliance Solutions, marketing director for Shalom Church City of Peace and community services assistant for Riverview Gardens School District. She has provided marketing assistance with several community organizations.

Bonnie Reece of Florissant has been appointed to the Governor’s Committee to End Homelessness by Gov. Jay Nixon. Reece is executive director for St. Louis Transitional Hope House, which provides supportive services to homeless families in metropolitan St. Louis. The committee devises strategies to promote public and private collaboration, evaluate and reallocate resources, and promote and support activities that prevent homelessness.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Express Scripts moves to acquire competitorfor$29B

St. Louis-based Express Scripts has agreed to acquire Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefit management company based in New Jersey, in a blockbuster $29 billion deal.

The corporate headquarters will remain in St. Louis with Express Scripts’ George Paz remaining as chairman and CEO and the Board of Directors expanding to include two current Medco members. Express Scripts, which had $45 billion in revenue 2010, is taking a $14 billion, 364-day bridge loan to finance the acquisition.

Medco has 23,000 employees, while Express Scripts has just over 14,000.

Centene wins $1.1B contract to serve Medicaid patients in La.

State Sen.Maria Chappelle-Nadal said any new construction projects created by Aerotropolis should state minority participation goals.

“We needed tools that were sharper, more effective and more userfriendly,” Nixon said. “So we’re cutting through red tape, streamlining processes and meeting the job creators where they are, rather than forcing them to contort their business plans to fit our obsolete economic development regulations.” Third, he said foreign trade is a “breakaway success.”

Here’s his to-do list. First, pass the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act. The act creates an ongoing source of funding to foster investment in high-tech and scientific research companies, he said. The funding will come from capturing a percentage of tax revenue generated by employees at new and existing life science companies clustered in St. Louis, Kansas City and in the animal health corridor that extends from St. Joseph to Kansas City to Columbia. Next, push forward the Compete Missouri Job Training Program, which provides financial assistance and incentives for new job training to qualifying businesses and technology centers.

St. Louis-based Centene Corp. has won a $1.1 billion contract from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to serve 160,000 to 180,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in a joint venture with an organization comprised of 19 Federally Qualified Health Centers in the state.

“Centene and our partner FQHCs share a vision of providing accessible, high-quality care for the medically underserved populations in Louisiana,” said Jesse Hunter, executive vice president of Corporate Development and operating group chairman of Centene.

The three-year deal is expected to generate annual revenue of $330 million to $370 million, with a possible two-year extension.

July 29 FEMAdeadline

The deadline for homeowners and renters impacted by the April 22 tornado and storm – or any storm – to register with FEMAis Friday, July 29. To register, call 1-800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

According to County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, FEMAhas taken 1,473 registrations in St. Louis County and provided more than $971,000 in grant money to individuals and families. These grants are for home repairs, personal property and other disaster-related expenses NOTcovered by insurance.

Katherine

William Sholar

Bonnie Reece

Melanie PowellRobinson

Richoun Fuller,a student at Construction Career Academy; Lora Moore,one of the “Original Angels”;Jamala Wallace,a student at Rosati-Kain High School;and Eric Whitaker,a student at Vashon High School,working on a batch Angel Baked Cookies.The kitchen is in the basement of Saints Teresa and Bridget Catholic Church,2401 N.Grand Blvd.

Photo by Wiley Price

Gov.Jay Nixon called a press conference at the Danforth Plant Science Center last Thursday to discuss his plans for economic development.

Photo by Wiley Price

A401(k) plan is self-directed, qualified retirement plan established by an employer to provide future retirement benefits for employees. Employee contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, and employer contributions are often tax deductible. (Roth 401(k) contributions are made after-tax, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are free of federal income tax.) Many employers are now enrolling new hires automatically in 401(k) plans, allowing them to opt out later if they choose not to participate. This is done in the hope that more employees will participate and will start saving for retirement at an earlier age. If you elect to participate in

COOKIES

Continued from B1 one is welcome who is willing to do the work and obey the rules.

“Not about religion at all,” Meier said. “It’s about spirit and strengthening their spiritual life.”

One of the main requirements is that employees stay in school. Now in its fourth year

What is a 401(k) plan?

a 401(k) plan, you can allocate a percentage of your salary to your plan every month. The maximum annual contribution is $16,500 in 2011. If you will be 50 or older before the end of the tax year, you can contribute an additional $5,500. Contribution limits are indexed annually for inflation. The funds in your account will accumulate tax deferred until you begin taking distributions in retirement. Employer contributions are often subject to vesting requirements. Employers can determine their own vesting schedules, making employees partially vested over time and fully vested after a specific number of years. When an

of business, Angel Baked Cookies has a 100 percent graduation rate with its student employees.

Angels are required to participate in workshops to help them improve in other aspects of their lives.

“It gives teens the power to make a choice: to be on the streets or make job references and be a part of a team,” said Eric Whittaker, a 19-year old Angel.

Angel Baked Cookies hires

By Charles Ross PERSONAL

employee is fully vested, he or she is entitled to all the contributions made by the employer when separating from service.

In plans that offer loans, you may also be allowed to borrow money from your account (up to 50% of the account value or $50,000, whichever is less) with a five-year repayment period. Of course, if you leave your job, the loan may

FINANCE

Charles Ross

up to 10 high school students in their junior year and continues with eight during the summer. The program started in spring 2007 and only had three students working in the kitchen.

“The first group we called the ‘Original Angels,’” said Lora Moore, an Original Angel and now the company’s assistant manager.

Angel Baked Cookies started off as an experimental program answering the voice of neighborhood youth. Moore described getting the idea off the ground as successful bribery. For a block unit meeting in the North Grand neighborhood, Meier promised food if people showed up. Thirteen teenagers came to the meeting.

“We asked for jobs in the neighborhood,” Moore said. “We also wanted a safer place to get snacks after school without dealing with drugs, being stabbed or shot at.”

Cookie R&D

After talking to everyone in the neighborhood, planning was the next step. Many of the ideas didn’t work. Baking and

have to be repaid immediately. The funds in a 401(k) plan are portable. When you leave your job or retire, you can move your funds or take a taxable distribution. However, if you leave a company before you are fully vested, you will be allowed to take only the funds that you contributed yourself plus any vested funds, as well as any earnings that have accu-

selling cookies sounded like a comparatively simple idea, Meier said.

“I have done a lot of chocolate chip cookie research,” Meier said.

The teenagers in the neighborhood were skeptical when first starting out. The Original Angels didn’t know how to make cookies and didn’t know where to sell them. Moore was one of the skeptical Angels.

“You’re going to pay me to play around in dough?” Moore said.

mulated. Within certain limits, the funds in your 401(k) plan can be rolled over directly to your new employer’s retirement plan without penalty. Alternatively, you can roll your funds directly to an individual retirement account (IRA) instead. You must begin taking required minimum distributions from 401(k) plans no later than April 1 of the year after you reach age 70?.

Distributions from regular 401(k) plans are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to a 10% federalincome tax penalty if withdrawn before age59?, except in special circumstances such as dis-

“I gained 10 pounds working at Angel Baked during the trial and error at baking the cookies,” Moore said. Carla Jones, the kitchen manager at the company, has been involved in other services in the neighborhood and rejoined the cookie crew in October 2010.

“We wanted a safer place to get snacks after school without dealing with drugs, being stabbed or shot at.”

ability or death. A401(k) plan can be a great way to save for retirement, especially if your employer offers matching contributions. If you are eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan, you should take advantage of the opportunity, even if you have to start by contributing a small percentage of your salary.This type of plan can form the basis for a sound retirement funding strategy. Charles Ross is host of the syndicated radio program “Your Personal Finance.” Contact him at P.O. Box 870928; Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087; or email to charles@ charlesross.com.

– Lora Moore oven and cooled, they are packaged and delivered.

Angel Baked Cookies started off with a survey of who liked what type of cookies. People responded with sugar, oatmeal, chocolate chip and peanut. Due to allergies, the peanut butter cookie didn’t make the cut. The sugar cookie eventually crumbled because it was baking too big or too small. Now Angel Baked Cookies packages and delivers chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies.

“I like working with the teens a lot, they bring a lot of energy and fun to the workplace,” Jones said. The Angels have a rotating schedule. The crew is split up into two sections. Half of the crew works on Monday and Wednesday, and the others work on Tuesday and Thursday. Dough is made during the beginning of the week and formed with ice cream scoopers. Several cookies are smashed at one time, and then the Angels put non-stick spray on metal trays and line the trays with frozen cookies to be put in the oven. Once the cookies are taken out of the

“We do our own deliveries,” Jones said. Angel Baked Cookies are sold in over 10 different locations in St. Louis, including Straub’s Grocery, McMurphy’s Grill, Local Harvest Grocery and Northwest Coffee.

Employees are paid every two weeks.

“It feels good to help pay the bills at home and buy my own stuff and depend on no one else,” said Richoun Fuller, the youngest Angel on staff this summer. They accept that they have to leave the business after graduation. Jamala Wallace, an Angel and graduated senior from Rosati-Kain High School, is leaving crew this summer. Wallace said, “I am a little disappointed because I don’t know where I’ll work, but I’m more prepared and it will sound more impressive when I’m applying to a new job.”

For more information about Angel Baked Cookies, visit http://www.angelbaked. org/index.html.

“The question is whether he gets $16 million, $17 million or if some team, just to cut off all competition, throws $20 million at him.”

– SI writerPeter King,on NFL free agent Nnamdi

Myrle Mensey wins world masters title

St.Louisan Myrle Mensey won the gold medal in the 12-pound weight throw at the recent World Masters Track and Field Championships in Sacramento,California.Mensey's winning throw was 53 feet 3 inches, which just missed breaking her own American record in the event.Mensey competed in the women's 60-year old division.Mensey also finished fourth in the hammer throw,discus and weight pentathlon.More than 5,000 athletes from 93 countries competed in the event.Mensey is the Executive Director of the Throwing and Growing Foundation.

THREELOCALPLAYERS SIGNWITH NFL TEAMS

The recent end of the National Football League lockout means that training camp will be getting underway immediately. It also means that players who weren’t selected in the NFLDraft can now sign as free agents. Three players from the St. Louis area signed on as free agents on Tuesday. Former Miller Career Academy standout Raymond Webber signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Beaumont

standout Niles Brinkley signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers while Cardinal Ritter College Prep graduate Quentin Davie was on the verge of signing with the Detroit Lions. The 6’3” 220-pound Webber was a NCAADivision I-AAAll-American during his senior year at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He set several receiving records during an explosive senior campaign. He was also the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 St. Louis Gateway

Classic. Brinkley was a three-year starter at cornerback for the Wisconsin Badgers, earning All Big Ten Conference honors. He helped the Badgers to a Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Davie was an All-Big Ten Conference linebacker at Northwestern University. Davie has four interceptions last season as well as being one of the Wildcats’leading tacklers.

Local prep showdown at the Dome

Inaugural Great American Football Classic to be held September 9-10

By Earl Austin Jr.

High school football is just around the corner in St. Louis, and area football fans will get an early chance to witness a big event at the Edward Jones Dome. The inaugural Great American Football Classic will be held at the Dome on the weekend of September 9-10. The six-game

and

The

on Friday, Sept. 9 with

doubleheader featuring

teams. Belleville East will play Granite City at 5:45 p.m. That game will be followed by O’Fallon against Belleville West at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the schools from the Missouri side of the river take over with four more games. Suburban North Conference rivals McCluer North and Pattonville will open the day at 10:30 a.m. Rockwood school district rivals Eureka and Marquette will follow at 1:15 p.m. Gateway Athletic Conference foes Wentzville Holt and Francis Howell Central will follow at 4 p.m. The event’s

INSIDE SPORTS

Bronzed in Florida

Samantha Levin wins medal in IAAF Junior Pan-Am Games

Keenan Mace signs with Cowboys

Sending a big shout out to Beaumont High product Keenan Mace, who is expected to sign with the

Cowboys as a

agent as of press

on Wednesday. This is according to blogger Nick Eatman of Dallascowboys.com. A6’4” 315-pound defensive tackle, Mace played two years of college football at Lindenwood University. As a LU alum, it’s always good to see a former Lion get a shot at the prime time. I saw some of his highlights on Youtube. Keenan is a beast. With Mace and former Beaumont teammate Niles Brinkley and Miller Career Academy’s Raymond Webber all signing as NFLfree agents, Tuesday was indeed a great day for the football programs in the Public High League.

Biedscheid goes global

Cardinal Ritter College Prep basketball standout Cameron Biedscheid has been selected to play in the Nike Global Challenge on August 5-7 in Hillsboro, Oregon. Biedscheid will play on the USAteam that will compete against an international field which includes teams from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Chinese Taipei and Puerto Rico. Former Chaminade College Prep All-American Bradley Beal played in the Nike Global Challenge last year for the USA.

Fundraiser for Kenny Lee

Aspecial fundraiser will be held on Saturday for former Chaminade College Prep basketball standout Kenny Lee. The Man-to-Man celebrity wheelchair basketball game will be held on Saturday,

Asomugha

Of The St.Louis American

Earl Austin Jr.

Former Ladue High track star Samantha Levin earned a bronze medal in the 800meter run at the IAAF Junior Pan-Am Games last weekend in Miramar,Florida

Raymond Webber

Niles Brinkley

Quentin Davie

CLAIB’S CALL

By Mike Claiborne

R.I.P., NFL

With new rules, the old game is gone

Now that there is labor peace in the NFL, it is time to say so long to the NFLwe used to know. Because of some of the rule changes that will de-emphasize contact and practice on the field, the league will never be the same and maybe that is good. I will hold off judgment for a while. Gone are the dreaded twoa-day practices that save water breaks as a reward. The contact at that time was designed to get players into “football shape,” something that any player who has ever put on a helmet would understand. With that challenge came a badge of courage and determination. It separated the men from the boys; it made you feel like you

were tougher than those who would not dare step on the field in this modern-day gladiator event. Now, it’s gone, and so is the NFLas we knew it. As for the rest of the agreement, a tip of the cap should go to NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. A relative newcomer to the industry of sports, Smith had a vision. He was not one of the good old boys, and he was going to make sure the players were not going to give anything away that would be deemed essential to their survival. Smith was firm and yet

flexible. Ego seldom came into play, only when the owners needed to be reminded he was supposed to be at the bargaining table.

In the end, Smith got a 10-year deal that should help both player and owner, a deal where both sides gained from giving in a bit.

This agreement will be in place longer than most players and some owners will be around, as the shelf life for a player is under four years, with coaches lasting slightly longer. As for the retired players, they will have a around $60 million a year earmarked for them. The administration of

this money will be key, as it should be for those who suffer from health issues along with other extenuating circumstances. This should not include alimony payouts to the third and fourth ex-wife/skank who thought there was a pot of gold at the end of a pro jock’s rainbow.

Today’s player got a good deal on the surface. While the salary cap will preclude some from hitting the jackpot when it comes to long-term deals, it may be better than the previous deal. Free agency will be alive and well, but only the smart players will profit.

They say the reduction of practices should save on the health of players. I think the absence of grueling training camps could increase injury to those who are not physically fit. It will be a challenge to say the least, and some will pay the price.

As for the rookies? Forget about them for this season. Few will make an impact as they have no practice time, let alone familiarity with the league, its players and coaches. They will be better off watching this season.

The NFLis now in no man’s land with respect to the new rules, their implementa-

CLASSIC

Continued from B3

ning the MCC title and beating DeSmet in the process.

DeSmet features one of the country’s top players in senior all-around talent Durron Neal, who recently gave a verbal commitment to Oklahoma. The 6’1” 195-pound Neal is one of the most electrifying players in the state of Missouri. CBC finished 10-2 last season en route to a berth in the state playoffs. The Cadets return top quarterback Dalton Demos and a host of talented athletes. CBC

tion, the conditioning of players and the overall preparation that will be required to not just play, but to complete.

As for the St. Louis Rams, it could be rocky with a new offensive coordinator and needs that have yet to be filled: receiver, running back, defensive line and secondary, to

defeated DeSmet 17-10 last year en route to winning the league title. Metro east teams Belleville East and O’Fallon return strong teams that will try to challenge the supremacy of the East St. Louis Flyers. Belleville East made a historic run to the IHSAstate semifinals a year ago. It was the Lancers first semifinals berth in the school’s history. O’Fallon has been a regular in the IHSAstate playoffs for years. The Panthers’showcase player is linebacker Mike Cotton, who recently gave a verbal commitment to Indiana. McCluer North and

patience?

life for a player is under four years,with coaches lasting slightly longer.

Pattonville will again be contenders in the Suburban North. The Stars return starting quarterback Galen Brown, who is a three-year starter. Both the Stars and the Pirates were Class 6 state playoff participants a year ago. Eureka and Marquette were Suburban West Conference tri-champions a year ago. Eureka has also enjoyed an excellent run of success for many years. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the participating schools for $11. They are good for one day of the event. They can also be purchased at the Dome on the day of the event for $15.

Mike Claiborne

Redbird Hall of Famers

and Red

of Fame

and

Continued from B3

Aug. 13 at the Emerson Performance Center on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University. Lee, who also played at Harris-Stowe was paralyzed in a car accident in Florida in 2009. The event will raise money for a custommade wheelchair for Lee to enable him to play in the Mobile Patriots in the Wheelchair Basketball Association. Lee is partnering with the Larry Hughes Foundation and former St. Louis Cardinals baseball player Lonnie Maclin in this event. Tickets for the event are on sale at the Emerson Performance Center Office or the Henry Givens Jr. Administration Building on the campus of Harris Stowe.

were

Rackley to Jacksonville

Former CBC basketball standout Darion Rackley gave a commitment to play at Jacksonville State University last week. The 6’2” Rackley averaged 20 points a game as a senior in leading the Cadets to a 19-8 record.

Ramey’s kids

Congratulations to the Team Rameybasketball 11U boys on their seventh place finish at the Amateur Athletic Union National Championships last week. The team is coached by Terrell Ramey. Terrell led his team to the AAU national title last summer, so he is on quite a roll with his kids.

Eagles over Arkansas

The St. Louis Eagles 15U (White) team finished seventh

at the AAU 15U Division I National Tournament in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Eagles 15U (Blue) team finished 12th at the same AAU National Tournament. The St. Louis Warriors finished fifth at the AAU Division II National Tournament, which was also held in Little Rock.

Summer Classic

The St. Louis Eagles 17U boys advanced to the championship game of the Saint Louis Summer Classic, which was held last weekend at the St. Louis Sports Center. The Eagles were edged by the Howard Pulley (Minn.) Panthers 60-55 in the finals. The tournament attracted top summer select teams from around the country, as well as hundreds of college coaches. Among the coaches present in St. Louis over the weekend were Tom Izzo (Michigan

State), Tubby Smith (Minnesota), Leonard Hamilton (Florida State), Bruce Weber (Illinois) and Chris Mack (Xavier).

(You can follow Earl Austin Jr.’s daily reports on his basketball website, www.earlaustinjr.com. You can also follow Earl on Facebook and twitter.com/earlaustinjr.)

Ozzie Smith,Lou Brock

Schoendienst were on hand last Sunday in Cooperstown,N.Y.for Major League

Baseball’s Hall

inductions.Inducted

former second baseman Roberto Alomar,pitcher Bert Blyleven

general manager Pat Gillick.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Missouri’s total exports grew by 35 percent in 2010, for a total of nearly $13 billion. And during the first quarter of 2011, Missouri exports were up an additional 18 percent. Transportation equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and aerospace are the state’s top exports, but he said food and agricultural products are picking up steam.

“We’re going to keep on making things at the most sophisticated and efficient manufacturing facilities in the nation,” he said. “Now we need a better way to get our goods from here to there.”

He said the creation of a thriving commercial hub in St. Louis, outlined in the Aerotropolis initiative, would allow Missouri to continue to drive up exports. The hub would provide infrastructure,

such as warehouses and cold storage facilities, around Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to support more international exports.

Lastly, he mentioned the Broadband Now initiative to expand the state’s digital networks.

Yet, all these must be done in a fiscally responsible way, he said. Tax credit reform is what will give us the money to invest, he said. “If we don’t get tax credit reform, we simply can’t afford it,” Nixon said. “And as the responsible steward of our taxpayers’hard-earned dollars, I simply will not sign any legislation we can’t pay for.”

State Rep. Clem Smith is glad Nixon is calling a special session to go over the economic bill, he said. However, the press conference was the first time he had been briefed on Nixon’s plans for the bill.

“They keep saying it’s been a bipartisan effort, but I sit on economic development,” Smith said. “And unless I

missed the phone call, there has no been communication on their end.”

Smith is most concerned that legislators will continue to try and phase out the Missouri Circuit Breaker, now the Missouri Property Tax Credit. This program gives a tax credit for renters who are disabled or seniors and whose incomes fall below designated levels.

Regarding the Aerotropolis initiative for the commercial hub, State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal agreed that paying for Aerotropolis will be a challenge.

“We are going to have to do a really fine-tuned balancing act,” she said.

Chappelle-Nadal also said any new construction projects created by Aerotropolis should state minority participation goals.

“This is in the middle of North County and an area where people are underemployed,” she said.

Financial Focus

By James Parshay, financial advisor

fact, if you started putting money into a Roth IRAat age 30, and you contributed the maximum amount each year until you reached 65, you would accumulate more than $766,000, assuming you are in the 25% tax bracket and you earned a 7% return, compounded annually. But, given

DANA GRACE

CARATS in the Lou Sade, too!

Judge David Herriford (Los Angeles) was in town recently visiting with old friends and family. In 2010 David was appointed by then California Governor Swartzenegger to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. David says he is enjoying this challenging appointment and sends greetings from Mother Barbara Herriford who misses her St. Louis friends but has adjusted to the Cali lifestyle!

Dana Grace

Romare Bearden: The Soul of Blackness/A Centennial Tribute: If you are visiting the Big Apple this year, this exhibit promises to be impressive! The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is pleased to present a centennial birthday tribute to world acclaimed artist and their native son Romare Bearden. This exhibition is the Center’s contribution to the nation-wide birthday celebration of Mr. Beardon’s legacy and was coordinated by the Romare Bearden Foundation. Runs Friday, July 15 through Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Carousels celebrate in Toronto June 23 – June 26. Several St. Louis

See POTPOURRI, C6

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis

STL Home Jamz turns ive

American

Sunday night D.J. Sno, Finsta and D.J. Jewell had just wrapped another episode of their hit weekly show STL Home Jamz that airs on Hot 104.1 FM. It appeared to be business as usual, but the trio is on the cusp of something big. On Monday (Aug. 1) they will celebrate the ive-year anniversary of their show with a showcase of STL’s inest at the Gramophone.

“It seems like people are just now starting to realize what’s going on as far as paying attention to what we’re

doing, but it’s been awesome,” STL Home Jams founder DJ Sno said.

Sno kicked the show off with STL rap star Chingy ive years ago. A few personnel changes left it in other hands for a couple of years, but it fell back in the lap of Sno and Finsta three years ago. DJ Jewell is the baby of the STL Home Jamz bunch.

“I love the fact that it gives local artists a chance to showcase their music,” Jewell said.

The show’s title is somewhat selfexplanatory, but as it has grown the slot has become much more than a

Beloved soul band among latest Budweiser Superfest line-up

By Kenya Vaughn Of

The St. Louis American

“You better do that, Stokley…we already know you ain’t nothing to play with.”

A random audience member couldn’t help but respond after Mint Condition frontman Stokley Williams

Participants in the 41st Debutante & Masters Cotillion included Matthew Stewart, Andrien Rall, Andrew Williams, Markiki Harris, Angelo Jones Jr., Alexus Sutton, Cheyenne Perry, Chellsey Henderson, Alexis Cochran and Tiffani Ferrell.

headed back towards the microphone after making his rounds to three different instruments during their 2009 visit to The Pageant.

The venue was packed with fans who knew each of the band members by name as the multifaceted musicians shifted around stage playing musical chairs from one instrument to the next.

“St. Louis … St. Louis,” said Jeffrey Allen, keyboardist and saxophonist. “I love the energy there. Hopefully we can get back really soon.”

At the time Allen, Stokely Williams and Ricky Kinchen were speaking with The American to promote their newest studio album Seven, which dropped in the spring.

Mint Condition will perform as part of the Budweiser Superfest Presents: Jill Scott’s Summer Block Party at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

St. Louis was on their wish list of cities for the Seven tour. Thanks to the Budweiser Superfest, this wish will come true next Thursday at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater featured in Jill Scott’s Summer Block Party with Scott, Anthony Hamilton and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

“We’ve been a big part of

people’s lives,” said Ricky Kinchen, bassist for Mint Condition. “It’s still going things, are still happening, and we are still grateful.”

It’s been 20 years since the Minneapolis soul band made their national debut with their top-ive R&B/top 10 pop hit “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes).” Mint Condition was shoved in with R&B bands that simultaneously burst on the scene, including Tony! Toni! Tone! and Lo Key. Although Tony! Toni! Tone! would enjoy the majority of the commercial and critical success, the award for staying power belongs to Mint Condition.

Church offers Debutantes & Masters scholarships in style

By Ashley Westbrook For The St. Louis American

The Bessie M. Pointer Memorial Scholarship Council, members of the Wayman African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, held “an evening of ebony elegance” when they hosted the 41st Debutante & Masters Cotillion recently at the New Northside Conference Center. Participants included high school

graduates Matthew Stewart, Andrien Rall, Andrew Williams, Markiki Harris, Angelo Jones Jr., Alexus Sutton, Cheyenne Perry, Chellsey Henderson, Alexis Cochran and Tiffani Ferrell.

The scholarship event hosted for the high school graduates highlights their success; the cotillion highlights their style and grace.

The young ladies dressed up in long, luxurious white gowns and held the hands of handsomely dressed young men, while hosts Duana McNeal and Anthony Caldwell Jr. introduced the 10 youth by pairs. Music played softly in the background as each pair walked in slowly to allow

Sade’s St. Louis concert is tonight (July 28) at the Scottrade Center.

See MINT, C4

See JAMZ, C4

D.J. Snow and D.J. Finsta

1.Email

concerts

Thurs., July 28, 7:30 p.m., Sade with special guest John Legend, Scottrade Center. For more information visit www.livenation.com

Sat., Jul. 30, 8 p.m. (meet and greet begins at 5 p.m.), AlexanderO’Neil Meet and Greet and Live Performance At Envy Ultra Lounge, 13141 New Halls Ferry. For tickets, visit www.LiquidAssetsEvents.com

Thurs., Aug. 4, 7 p.m., BudweiserSuperfest presents Jill Scott’s SummerBlock Party hosted by Doug E. Fresh and featuring Anthony Hamilton, Mint Condition and DJ Jazzy Jeff, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. For more information, visit www.livenation.com.

Fri., Aug. 5, 8 p.m., The Sheldon Notes from Home Concert Series presents the Grammy Nominated “Super Dynamic Duo” Don and Alicia Cunningham, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington. For more information, call (314) 533-9900.

Sat., Aug. 20, The Heart of a Champion, this live concert will raise money to benefit local students through the Vatterott College Scholarship Fund and will include performances from National Recording Artists Nelly and Monica. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd. To purchase individual tickets and/or to learn more about

package opportunities please visit: www.vatterott.edu/nelly.asp

Sat., Sept. 17, (Tickets on sale Mon., Jun. 6 at 10 a.m.), Yo Gabba Gabba, The Fox Theatre. For more information, call (314) 534-1111 or visit www.metrotix.com

local gigs

Mon., Aug. 1, 10:30 p.m., HOT104.1’s STLHome Jamz will be celebrating five years of supporting independent music from Saint Louis and all surrounding areas! Confirmed artists to perform include: STLHottest Winner Jay Louiz, Trixie, Phat Pheezy, Seviin Li, & More, The Gramophone, 4243 Manchester.

special events

Fri., Jul. 29, 6 p.m., Northwest High -Class of 1971 Happy Hour& Fun Raiser, EXO. Send your contact info & email to:tonyjam2000@yahoo.com

Fri., Jul. 29, 7 p.m., The St. Louis County Library Foundation Reading Garden Event Series and KETC Channel 9 are pleased to present a free family concert with PBS Kids’musical host Mr. Steve. Mr. Steve will share interactive, original songs and stories St. Louis County

CALENDAR

Library Headquarters, 1640

S.Lindbergh Blvd. For additional information, Contact St. Louis County Library by phone 314-994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org.

Jul. 30, 9 a.m., Hopewell MB Church Back to School Rally and Health Fair, Mammogram van available, free mammograms for uninsured women 40yrs+. Must make appt for mammograms. Hopewell MB Church, 915 N. Taylor. For more information, call 314-705-1190.

July 30, Budweiser, Myspace Music and Café Soul will be searching for an opening act for the Budweiser Superfest

August 4 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater ft Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Mint Condition and DJ Jazzy Jeff Opening Act showcase will take place at The Loft with headlining act Dwele. Apanel of judges will pick the winner. Local winner will receive $5,000 and an opening act slot at the Budweiser Superfest August 4th at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and also entered to win the $25,000 grand prize! http://www.myspace.com/budweiseropeningact/OpeningActs

Sun., Jul. 31, 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. doors) The Sunday FunniesComedy Show, Lemmons, 5800 Gravois. Reservations & other information may be obtained by calling NonProphet Theater

Company Managing Director Heather Tucker at: 1-636-2364831, or visiting www.nptco.org

Fri., Aug. 5, 6 p.m., Howard Alumni Wind and Jazz Soiree, Proceeds benefit the Frankie M. Freeman and Wayman F. Smith Scholarship Fund. Featuring live jazz by Lamar Harris Live, Silent Auction and Open Wine and Beverage Bar. The Eleven, 360 N. Boyle. For event information call (630) 697-9641 or email stlhualumni@yahoo.com

Fri., Aug. 5, 8 p.m., Platinum Group, Inc., 13 Black Katz and Kappa Alpha Psi present “Ala White Penthouse,” with a live band and a DJ, Renaissance St. Louis Airport, 9801 Natural Bridge.

Aug. 5 – Aug. 7, 5 Star Events presents the 3rd Annual Rock Da Boat Weekend in Lake Ozarks, MO. Pajama Party, BBQ, Yacht Party, Live performance by Pieces of a Family “featuring Marvin Hitman Rice”, Pool party. For more info contact Tiffany Anderson at 314322-5094 or go to www.rockdaboat.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 6, 12 noon, Hempstead Alumni’s 2nd annual picnic in Hempstead school yard located at Minerva and Hamilton. Let’s enjoy each other like before, please bring coolers, tents, and games. Also, please bring school sup-

plies for donation (greatly appreciated). For information call Michael Butler 306-5722, or send email to Hempsteadalumni@sbcglobal.net

Through Aug. 12, Best Dance & Talent CenterDance & Activity Camp, (7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon.- Fri.) Best Dance and Talent Center, 105 Northwest Plaza. For more information, call (314) 739BEST(2378).

Sat., Aug. 13, 8 p.m., Immortal Passion: AFiery Night of African Dance, Music, & Legendary Tales of Women! Produced by Malena Amusa & AddLife! Studio, this enchanting concert of inspiring and striking dance drama is the climax of AddLife!’s “Awaken the Dance Force Bazaar” —a day of exciting dance workshops from India, Africa, & the Middle East, Legacy Books & Cafe, 5249 Delmar Blvd. For more info, visit www.addlifestudio.com or call (314) 4584282.

Sun., Aug. 14, 10 a.m., Better Family Life’s Peacefest, (12 noon, St. Louis Metro Car Show and Display, 2 p.m. Peacefest Concert, 5 p.m. Who’s Who in Black St. Louis Celebrity Softball Classic), St. Vincent Park, 7335 St. Charles Rock Rd, 63133.

Sun., Aug. 14, 2 p.m., Craig Blac’s 10 Annual Community Cuts ForKids will be held at the following locations:Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, 2901 N Grand Blvd, St Louis; The Monsanto YMCA, 5555 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63112;-The Mary Brown Center, 606 South 15th Street, East St Louis, Il 62207 (10a-6p at this Location). Barbers and stylists interested in volunteering can visit www.craigblac.com or e-mail craigblac@gmail.com.

Sun., Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. (6 p.m. doors), J.R.L.W. presents ASpecial All-Star Explosion Body Blast 2011 Club Illusion, 526 E. Broadway, East St. Louis, IL. Call (314) 868-9564.

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

Sat. August 27, 7a.m. - 7p.m., Neighborhood Flea Market, Saint Louis ConnectCare. Proceeds benefit uninsured/underinsured patients at Saint Louis ConnectCare. Space will be available to residents on the northeast parking lot at Delmar & Belt. Call Judi at (314)879-

6494 for details.

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

Niecy’s Network Showcase, The showcase provides a spot for talent to shine! Fridays 8pm Klmaxx Room inside the Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Road call (314)337-8087. Lexus Len’s Jazz Happy Hour Every Wed 6-10pm @ The Loft 3112 Olive, 2 for 1 Drink Specials 6-8pm, Jazz Band 7-9:30pm, Free Food while it last, No Cover Charge, Mature Atmosphere Only.

Fri., Jul. 29, 9 p.m. (8 p.m. doors) Urb Poetry @ Legacy Featuring HBO Def

Urb Poetry @ Legacy Featuring HBO Def Poet Sunni Patterson..See LITERARY for details.

For more information, call 314-598-6075, e-mail lrharris@aspoonfulohoney.com or visit www.aspoonfulohoney.com.

SIUE’s SummerShowbiz

2011 season closer, Meredith Willson’s all-time American musical classic, The Music Man. The Fine Arts Box Office phone number is 618-6502774. Tickets are on sale now! The Fine Arts Box Office at SIUE is located in the Dunham Hall Building, room 1042B, justeast of parking lot E. Check us out at www.siue.edu/summerarts.

Jul. 29 – Aug. 6, Hawthorne Players will present the musical “Annie,” The Florissant Civic Center Theatre, Parker Road and Waterford Drive. For more information, call (314) 9215678 or visit www.hawthorneplayers.com.

Aug. 6, 10 a.m., Families region-wide will get to check out the offerings of the newly reconstructed Delta Dental Health Theatre and gain access to a free, medieval-themed outdoor festival on the grassy lot just down from the theatre at the corner of First and Lucas streets. Delta Dental Health Theatre, 727 North First Street. For a complete list of planned activities for this rain or shine event, visit www.ddhtstl.org.

Through July 29, FRESH 2011, 2nd Annual Full-time Student photography Competition and Exhibition hosted by Studio Altius Photography, Opening Night Reception: Friday July 8, 2011

6-10p.m.Studio Altius 2301 South Big Bend Boulevard Maplewood, MO 63143. For more information, call 314.769.9769 or visit www.studioaltius.com

Through July 31, This summer, CAM takes the St. Louis public into over 160 artists’ studios across St. Louis with our 6th Annual City-Wide

Open Studios. CWOS offers a unique opportunity for St. Louisans to explore the creative and personal spaces of local artists while providing the ability to enjoy one of the most exciting parts of contemporary art - the chance to talk with the artists themselves Several events will be taking place in celebration of the 6th Annual City-Wide Open Studios. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.camstl.org

Sun., Jul. 31, 10 a.m., 6th

Annual City Wide Open Studios presents Open Studio - Ingrum Gallery & Studio featuring fine art and craft art by 6 African American Artists. Live music performance. Sneak peek preview Friday July 29th at 8 p.m. 4937 Washington Ave. Call (314) 454-1344. Dowload maps www.camstl.org/cwos CAM Free Admission. For more info contact: lois@ingrumstudios.com

Through August 1, MFA Thesis Exhibition featuring the candidates in Washington University’s Graduate School of Art, part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

Through August 1, Cosima Von Bonin Character Appreciation, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. August 5 – September4, The Gallery at The Regional Arts Commission presents Critical Mass Creative Stimulus 2011 featuring the art of Emily Hemeyer, Sarah Paulsen, Alex Petrowsky & Lyndsey Scott Curated by Sarah Colby, Opening Reception: Friday,August 5: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Gallery Talk Thursday, August 186 p.m. (reception 5:30 p.m.) The Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. Through August 14, Cryptic: The Use of Allegory inContemporary Art with a Master Class from Goya.This exhibition will feature the work of six contemporary artists – Folkert de Jong,

Hiraki Sawa, Allison Schulnik, Dana Schutz, Javier Tellez, and Erika Wanenmacher –paired with works by Spanish master Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis,3750 Washington Boulevard. For more information, visit www.camstl.org.

Through Aug. 21, Jacoby Arts Center7th Annual Juried Art Exhibit, Opening Reception, Friday, July 15, 5 –8 pm, The Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton, Illinois. For more information, visit www.jacobyartscenter.org

Through August 28, PPRC Photography Project: BarnesJewish Hospital Center for Diversity & Cultural Competence, an exhibit at two locations. LOCATION 1: Through Aug. 28 at PPRC Photography Project Gallery, 427 Social Sciences and Business Building at UMSL, 1

the University of MissouriSt. Louis will sponsorthe Entrepreneurial Boot Camp

The boot camp is a comprehensive three-part program designed to help participants understand the market for starting a business, determine the type of business that best suits them and how to navigate a path to ensure success. Industry experts will facilitate the workshops. Email stlblackmba@charter.net to RSVPor for more information.

health

Sat. Aug. 6, 10 a.m. - 4p.m.Kingdom of Healthy Smiles Family Fun Day celebrating the grand re-opening of Delta Dental Health Theatre. Families are invited to a special medieval-themed outdoor festival. Canned food donations will be accepted on this date for Operation Food Search. For more information, call 314-241-7391 or visit www.ddhtstl.org.

University Blvd., St. LouisCounty, Mo. 63121; LOCATION 2: Through July 31 at Arts + Healthcare Gallery in the Shoenberg Pavilion at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 4921 Parkview Place, St. Louis, Mo. 63110; For more information, call (314) 516-5273 or visit www.pprc.umsl.edu.

lectures

Sat., Jul. 30, 10 a.m., The Universal African Peoples Organization Last Saturday of the Month Community Forum Theme Prophecy and Its Impact on the Black Community. Julia Davis Library, 4415 Natural Bridge. For more info (314) 454-9005.

Through Aug. 18, Along with the National Black MBA Association-St. Louis Chapterand Marks & Associates, ITEnterprises at

Sat., Aug. 13, 9 a.m., The Olivet Missionary Baptist Church Annual Health Fair, Olivet M.B. Church, 12200 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, MO 63033. Call (314) 837-8418.

Sat. Oct. 29, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Run/Walk in Forest Park -St. Louis. For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at http://tinyurl.com/ ACSmakingstrides

spiritual

Through Jul. 29, 6:30 p.m. nightly, Prospect Hill M.B. Church Vacation Bible School, not just for children, but forEVERYONE, Vacation Bible School is for everyone at Prospect Hill M.B. Church 4533 Arlington AveJuly 25July 29, 2011 6:30-8:30 nightly.Theme is UNITYMon (Unity with God) Tues. (Unity with family) Wed (Unity with the church) Thurs( Unity in the community) Fri (Unity in the

workplace) Call 381-6787 for registration. Prospect Hill M.B. Church, 4533 Arlington. For more information, call (314) 381-6787.

Jul., 29, C.R. Lee ministries present Tye Tribbett live in concert, Faith Church St. Louis, 3590 Rider Trial South Earth City, MO 63045. Tickets can be purchased at Transformation Christian Bookstore, WORD Christian Bookstore or by calling 314 322-9468 or 314 398-3405.

Jul. 30, 9 a.m., Union Baptist Church Youth Department presents Back to School Fun Conference “The Proverb Generation,” Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 1 East 6th Street. For more information, visit www.unionbaptist church.shutterfly.com.

Through July 31st, 7 p.m., PastorTommie L. Pierson, Sr., and the GreaterSt. Mark Family Church (9950 Glen Owen Drive 63136) will celebrate its 34th Anniversary with a revival July 27-29 @ 7pm nightly – with guest speaker Dr. Maurice Ricks, Pastor of Sure Foundation Church, Dallas, TX.An “Annual Unity Banquet: will be held July 30th @ 6pm.And on Sunday, July 31st @ 3:30pm, Rev. Arthur Jones, Pastor of Liberty Community Worship Center will bring the closing message.

Fri., Aug. 5, 7 p.m. (6 p.m. doors) Believers Temple Word Fellowship presents It’s the All in the Family SummerConcert Featuring the Bethany and Black Brothers, 2115 Chambers Rd. Tickets available at Family Christian Bookstore, Transformation Bookstore and Believers Temple. For more information, please call 314 388-0801.

Aug. 6, 10 a.m., United Methodist Church presents a Back To School Party with Safety Town, 801 First Capitol Drive. For more information, visit www.fumcstcharles.org

‘Beats Rhymes & Life:The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest’opens at the Landmark Tivoli Theater with a special red carpet event and after party at Sol hosted by Phife Dawg.For more information,see FILM.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

St. Louis Celebrates “Taxi Driver Appreciation Day”

In recognition of the exemplary work cab drivers do everyday as key representatives to the region, the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) and the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission celebrated “Taxi Driver Appreciation Day” on Thursday, July 21.

Held throughout St. Louis, this annual event is designed to shine the spotlight on these hardworking men and women who provide reliable and quality taxicab service to area residents and visitors.

“There are more than 1,009 taxi drivers throughout the metro area and much rides on them in creating a positive passenger perception of our city,” said Lorraine Gustavis, St. Louis CVC Brand Experience Trainer, who holds monthly training sessions for St. Louis area drivers.

In appreciation of their service, taxicab drivers at Lambert-International Airport as well as downtown were given “Appreciation Bags” filled with St. Louis information to help make their jobs of being destination ambassadors a little easier.

In addition, the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission had one of its new ADA-approved vans on display and provided assistance to wheelchair and scooter patrons.

Be a Tourist Notes: 48th Annual Moonlight Ramble

Date: Sunday, August 14, 2011

Venue: Soldier’s Memorial Plaza in Downtown St. Louis

World’s largest nighttime bicycle ride rambles through the streets of St. Louis. The event starts at Soldier’s Memorial at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, August 14. Vendor Village and on-site registration opens at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. The event includes preride activities, a leisurely 15 mile circuit and finishes off with an after-party back at Soldier’s Memorial. The event takes place rain or shine and helmets are required. www. moonlightramble.com, (314) 644-4660

Missouri Black Expo

Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011 until Sunday, August 21, 2011 Venue: America’s Center

The largest African-American Empowerment event in the State of Missouri. Hundreds of local and regional African-American entrepreneurs showcase their businesses at Americas Center. Artists, musicians, area agencies and major corporations participate. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (20); 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (21) http://missouriblackexpo.com, (314) 361-5572

JAMZ

Continued from C1

couple of hours set aside to showcase local hip-hop and R&B artists.

“The music we play, we dedicate it to St. Louis and the St. Louis people who are here trying to do something,” Sno said. “Because really, they can’t get on rotation unless they have a deal on the table or somebody rooting for them.”

Five years after the fact, they are celebrating the opportunity to offer shine blended with selfhelp to rising stars – and consider it a blessing that they’ve still around.

“I thought when Boogie D left, that was going to be it,” Sno said of the outgoing programming director who gave them the green light.

“But when Mickey J. came, he stepped the game up for us,” Finsta said. “He said, ‘I’ll give it an extra hour’ and ‘why is the

MINT

Continued from C1

“It’s been a journey,” Kinchen said. “All you can do is appreciate all of the things around you and don’t look back. There are a lot of people that started out with us that aren’t here right now.”

“And some of them have sold 30 million records,” Williams chimed in.

The Original members of Tony!Toni! Tone! disbanded several years back. They’ve continued with new members with little success while founding member Raphael Saddiq established himself as a formidable solo soul artist. Lo Key faded into obscurity not long after their 1994 sophomore release.

Mint Condition is the last band standing, but it hasn’t been an easy road. Their current

show on so late?’”

The show went from the radio graveyard shift of 11 p.m. on Sunday night to the prime time spot of 7 p.m.

The expansion of time and exposure offered them the opportunity to “get involved” – a weekly tag line the team offers its listeners each week as a challenge.

“When we moved the 7 o’clock spot, we added a couple of new segments to the show,” Finsta said.

The Mix-Tape Minute offers a spotlight on an artist who is locally presenting a project to the masses, and Industry Info offers insight to what goes on behind the scenes of the music business.

On Sunday, Industry Info was served up by hip-hop and R&B super producer Jazze Pha (who has worked with the likes of Missy Elliot, Cee-Lo Green, Aaliyah, Lil Wayne, Nelly and Gerald LeVert).

As the show’s caliber has grown, the artists’ quality has

label Shanachie Records is their fourth stop.

“Everybody has ups and downs in the industry,” Williams said. “You forget the experience, and you keep the lesson.”

Mint Condition is still going strong – with all of its original members. Although they tend to maintain an altitude that’s just under the radar for R&B music, they manage a monster chart-topper every other year or so and have managed to keep fans engaged for more than two decades.

“We keep our ears and eyes to the streets, try to keep current,” Allen said.

“Some of us write from true stories, while some are more narrative and may be part fiction,” Kinchen said. “But it’s all real because it’s coming from the heart.”

Mint Condition always manages to strike a chord with vivid and relatable lyrics, including

risen to the challenge.

“People are understanding what they really need to do to mess with me and Finsta,” Sno said.

“Artists have started reconditioning themselves to do better and do more,” Finsta co-signed.

While the team admits St. Louis is a tough sell, the STL Home Jamz team hopes the show will aid them in dispelling the notion that St. Louis audiences don’t care about St. Louis music.

“People don’t even know what they like,” Sno said. “It just comes on the radio, and we start brainwashing you with it. And once we’ve got you, we’ve got you. So why not do that with St. Louis music?” STL Home Jamz five-year anniversary showcase will take place at 10:30 p.m. Monday at the Gramophone, featuring STL Hottest Winner Jay Louiz, Trixie, Phat Pheezy, Seviin Li, and more. For more information, visit www.hot1041stl.com.

“What Kind of Man Would I Be,” “You Send Me Swingin’,” “Nothing Left to Say,” and their latest single “Not My Daddy” featuring Kelly Price. They are grateful that they caught the eye of hit-making production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in their hometown of Minneapolis so many years ago.

“Sharing and making feel people feel some kind of way with our music has been lifechanging to say the least,” Kinchen said. “Thanks to the fans for keeping us here and keeping us inspired.”

Mint Condition will perform as part of the Budweiser Superfest Presents: Jill Scott’s Summer Block Party at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater along with Scott, Anthony Hamilton and DJ Jazzy Jeff. For tickets or more information, visit www.livenation.com.

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

St. Louis Celebrates “Taxi Driver Appreciation Day”

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Honored Super student cousins

First cousins Julian Mitchell and Lesley Walker were accepted to the Joseph Baldwin Academy and the Duke TIPProgram. Both will participate in the JBA’s rigorous 3-week summer study program at UMKC— Julian studying architecture and Lesley studying journalism. Duke TIP identifies academically gifted students who score in the 95th percentile on standardized testing and allows them to take the ACT.

All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High School Class of 1965 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 45-year reunion. We are in the process of planning a dinner/dance.Your contact information is needed ASAP. Pleaseemail LaLinda Newsom Diggs at lalindadiggs@sbcglobal.net.

Beaumont High School Class

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

Beaumont High School Class of 1971’s 40-year reunion is scheduled for Aug. 5-7, 2011. $90 per person.E-mailyour contact information to beaumont71alumni@yahoo.com for details or contact Vernon Betts at (314) 226-3127.

Beaumont High School Class of 1976 will have its 35-year reunionAugust 19-21, 2011. Fri. night,Aug.19—meet &

Birthday Celebrate with Sean

Sean “Nell” Martin will be celebrating his birthday at “The In Spot” on Delmar, Saturday, July 30, 8 pm1:30 am and hosting a BBQ at Ivory Perry Park (aka Visitation) on July 31, 2011. Come out and celebrate! Bring your lawn chairs, coolers and kids. This will be a family affair.

Birthdays!

Canita Douglas — July 26

Cassell Sacus — July 27

Louis (Papa) Sacus — July 27

Chris Burston — July 28

Orthel ‘Dinky’Littles (70) — July 30

Michele Sadowski — July 30

Trina Henderson — July 31

Cynthia A. Holmes — August 2

greet hospitality suite St. Louis AirportRenaissance Hotel, Sat., Aug. 20— DinnerDance St. Louis Airport Renaissance Hotel Penthouse & Sun., Aug. 21 worship & picnic.For more information email bhs1976@swbell.net or visit our website at http://desyco.tripod.com.

Beaumont High School Class of 1981 30-year reunion, Aug. 19-21, 2011. Fri., Aug. 19, Happy Hour at EXO Ultra Lounge, 3146 Locust St. 6-10 pm, Free H’ordeuvres, Live Band; Sat. Aug. 20, 30th Reunion Celebration at Alpha House, 3615 N. 19th St., 7 pm2 am, Semi-Formal Attire, $10 Admission at the door; Sun. Aug. 21 Family Day Worship Service, Church TBAat Reunion Celebration, Dinner will be at Dave & Busters after

Birthday Centenarian

Russell Caldwell will celebrate his 100th birthday on July 29, 2011, with a tribute party in his honor with family and friends. Russell retired after a career at General Motors in February 1972. He and his late wife, Beulah, raised three daughters, Pat Love, Ann Thames and Karen Johnson-Love. He likes a good cigar, jazz music and enjoys game shows on his big screen TV.

Morning Worship Service.

Central High School AllClass reunion is looking for classmates to celebrate during the reunion weekend, August 12-14, 2011.All interested classmates should contact 601-4109 for more information.You may also send an email to centralallclass2009 @yahoo.com

East St. Louis Lincoln Class of 1971, calling all classmates interested in their 40-year reunion, please send your contact info to: Lincoln Class of 1971, PO Box 1430, East St. Louis, IL62202. Email us at ESTLLincoln1971@hotmail.c om, on Facebook at ESLLinconPenn or call 618781-4888 or 314-249-7295.

Hadley Technical High

School class of 1961 is preparing for its 50-year reunion in 2011. We are seeking contact information to complete our directory. For more information contact Ralph Johnson 314-477-2042 or William Perry 314-531-3170.

Kinloch High Class of 1976 has scheduled its 35-year reunion for Aug. 12-13, 2011. For more information, please contact Janet (Dalton) Campbell at 314-409-5441, Rosie (Moore) Odom at 314601-1331 or Sheila (Hughes) Bell at 314-680-8878.

Soldan Class of 1981 is looking for all classmates for the up coming Class Reunion Weekend September 2-4 2011. For details you can find info on Facebook or vontact Johnny Franklin at (314) 565-2056 or

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, graduation, 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:

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent \by mail to: Kate Daniel, 4242 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Julian Mitchell Lesley Walker

welcomed more than 500 guests.

POTPOURRI

chapter members celebrating at the Carousels annual conclave in Toronto were; Sandra and Nat Murdock, Staci G. Clayborne, Andrea Johnson Lee, Ruth Lewis and Peggy Proctor. Potpourri correspondent Sandra Murdock says the group enjoyed a weekend of exciting activities planned by the host chapter in and surrounding the Marriott Hotel in downtown Toronto.

Sandra is also excited about son Kenny Murdock’s new radio show – Tuesdays at Noon. The Murdock Report is hosted by St. Louis politico Kenneth Murdock. Tune in to The New WGNU 920 on your AM dial for the latest on local and national politics!

Kudos to Rene Faulk Jr. Rene, a 2011 Roosevelt High School graduate has been awarded a full athletic scholarship to Iowa State University. Proud parents Samantha and Rene Faulk Sr. are looking forward to traveling with Rene Jr. to Iowa on August 9. Best of luck to you Rene, we will look forward to those future Hall of Famer moves on the Iowa State football ield!

Jazz Lovers check out Terri Lyne Carrington’s The

AME

Continued from C1

the crowd to clap and enjoy their moment in the spotlight.

As each pair walked by, McNeal and Caldwell Jr. listed the goals and accomplishments of the masters and debutantes – and made the crowd crack a smile.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the 2011 masters,” Caldwell said.

The audience clapped and watched as each student bowed and waited for their photos to be taken. The group stood to perform a song with Perry and Stewart as leads. Williams made his way to the microphone to share his thoughts about the process with the crowd.

“No one was on time, but as we got used to it we got new friends and got close to each other,” Williams said.

Minutes later the young males jackets were thrown to the loor, and the music changed over head to a more upbeat tune. The young ladies took a spin, and the guys added their own style to their dance

Mosaic Project (Concord Jazz) released last week. Among others, this awesome compilation features talented vocalists; Dee Dee Bridgewater and Gretchen Parlato, Grammy award winning Esperanza Spaulding and Helen Sung on keyboards. Win! Win!

“Déjà Vu: Steppin’in the Lou” set the theme for hosting members of the St. Louis Chapter of CARATS, Inc. during their 36th National Conclave in St. Louis July 7-10, 2011. The social and civic organization entertained guests from 14 U.S. chapters at the Sheraton Westport Chalet. Chapter President Judy Woods-Williams and 2011 Conclave Chair Rosalee Johnson welcomed more than 500 guests. In keeping with their theme St. Louis Carats and Carateers planned a fun-illed weekend of activities for conclave participants. The weekend included a jazz concert, golf outing, sightseeing, luncheons, dinners, catching up and parties with nights illed with of dancing.

CARATS, Incorporated is a national organization of accomplished women in 15 chapters who are active in many civic and social organizations. The purpose of CARATS, Incorporated is to promote social, educational, and civic involvement among members within

presentation. At the end of the entertainment, Henderson was dipped by Hicks for special lare.

Samantha Kendall, the founder of the Cotillion, has had three grandsons and one great granddaughter participate.

Kendall shares the seat with several on the committee and one of their many jobs is inding students to participate.

“Recruitment is not easy,”

Kendall said.

This scholarship that has sent graduating seniors to colleges such as Harris-Stowe State University, Grambling University and Washington University. Kendall said that funds are raised through selling ads and souvenir books and with help from parents and council members.

“We send letters to various churches and then word of mouth,” Kendall said. “We are looking forward to having more younger people that can carry on the goal – to help high school students that need inancial assistance.”

Three-fourth of the proceeds goes to the children, and onefourth remains in the church funds. At the end of the night

their communities. CARATS,

from hundreds of hopefuls. New

the students were presented with a check in a pristine white envelope.

The night was wrapped up by speeches to thank everyone for coming, and Kendall was surprised by a special bouquet of lowers.

“It takes a lot,” Kendall said. “It takes more than a village to do what we have done.” Cheyenne Perry, a debutante and SIUE-Charter School graduate, says she feels a lot richer and grateful for the experience. The high school graduates broke up and walked over to family members to share their happy experiences. Alexus Sutton, a debutante and graduate of Hazelwood East High School, was animated and posed for many photos.

Sutton said, “I feel like a princess.”

Family and friends watched as the group of 10 sat down for a group photo and the people around them gathered their things and made their way out the door.

Caldwell said, “It was a great experience, and there’s more to come.”

Chapter President Judy Woods-Williams and

Conclave Chair Rosalee Johnson

Religion

Candidate openly discriminates against Muslims

Herman Cain says terrorist threat justifies opposing building mosques

By Eugene Robinson Washington Post

It is time to stop giving Herman Cain’s unapologetic bigotry a free pass. The man and his poison need to be seen clearly and taken seriously.

Imagine the reaction if a major-party presidential candidate – one who, like Cain, shows actual support in the polls – said he “wouldn’t be comfortable” appointing a Jew to a Cabinet position. Imagine the outrage if this same candidate loudly supported a community’s efforts to block Mormons from building a house of worship.

But Cain’s prejudice isn’t against Mormons or Jews, it’s against Muslims.

Cain recently took the position that any community in the nation has the right to prohibit Muslims from building a mosque. The sound you hear is the collective hum of the Founding Fathers whirring like turbines in their graves.

Freedom of religion is, of course, guaranteed by the Constitution. There’s no asterisk or footnote exempting Muslims from this protection. Cain says he knows this. Obviously, he doesn’t care.

Cain’s remarks came as “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace was grilling him about his obsession with the attempt by some citizens of Murfreesboro, Tenn., to halt construction of a mosque. Wallace noted that the mosque has operated at a nearby site for more than 20 years, and asked, sensibly, what the big deal is.

Cain launched into an elaborate conspiratorial fantasy about how the proposed place of worship is “not just a mosque for religious purposes” and how there are “other things going on.”

This imagined nefarious activity, it turns out, is a campaign to subject the nation and the world to Islamic religious law.

Anti-mosque activists in Murfreesboro are “objecting to the fact that Islam is both a religion and a set of laws, sharia law.” Cain said. “That’s the difference between any one of our other traditional religions where it’s just about religious purposes.”

Let’s return to the real world for a moment and see how bogus this argument is. Presumably, Cain would include Roman Catholicism among the “traditional religions” that deserve constitutional protection.

It happens that our legal system recognizes divorce, but the Catholic Church does not. This, by Cain’s logic, must constitute an attempt to impose “Vatican law” on an unsuspecting nation.

Similarly, an Orthodox Jewish congregation that observes kosher dietary laws must be part of a sinister plot to deprive America of its God-given bacon.

Wallace was admirably persistent in pressing Cain to either own up to his prejudice or take it back. “But couldn’t any community then say we don’t want a mosque in our community?”

Wallace asked.

“They could say that,” Cain replied.

“So you’re saying any community, if they want to ban a mosque ...” Wallace began.

“Yes, they have the right to do that,” Cain said.

InspIratIonal Message

For the record, they don’t. For the record, there is no attempt to impose sharia law; Cain is taking arms against a threat that exists only in his own imagination. It makes as much sense to worry that the Amish will force us all to commute by horse and buggy.

This demonization of Muslims is not without precedent. In the early years of the 20th century, throughout the South, white racists used a similar “threat” – the notion of black men as sexual predators who threatened white women – to justify an elaborate legal framework of segregation and repression that endured for decades.

As Wallace pointed out, Cain is an African American who is old enough to remember Jim Crow segregation. “As someone who, I’m sure, faced prejudice growing up in the ‘50s and the ‘60s, how do you respond to those who say you are doing the same thing?”

Cain’s response was predictable: “I tell them that’s absolutely not true, because it is absolutely, totally different. ... We had some laws that were restricting people because of their color and because of their color only.”

Wallace asked, “But aren’t you willing to restrict people because of their religion?”

Said Cain: “I’m willing to take a harder look at people that might be terrorists.”

Generations of bigots made the same argument about black people. They’re irredeemably different. Many of them may be all right, but some are a threat. Therefore, it’s necessary to keep all of them under scrutiny and control.

Bull Connor and Lester Maddox would be proud.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@ washpost.com.

By James Washington Dallas Weekly

One of the most misunderstood concepts in both the secular and the spiritual world is power.

Many associate power with money, the ability to buy whatever you want. Others believe that real power is defined by the ability to influence or affect the outcome of any given situation. The more power you have, the more you can affect the lives of those you come in contact with.

According to Christian faith, God is omnipotent. Most religions give power to the God or Gods that men worship. Christians simply believe El Shaddai is capable of doing anything. He doesn’t have the answer to all things. He is the answer to all things.

It has become crystal clear to me that power comes from truth. There is inherent power in the truth of who Jesus really was, who He really is and who He will always be. That truth brings peace of mind, and that peace of mind releases power.

I’m not talking about some ideological rhetorical power that one refers to just to make a point. I’m talking about the power of the truth to withstand the devil and stand up against evil. It gives you real power in the real world. This is very apparent in the bible as we see in those who believe and then act upon their belief. Then as now, persecution followed these believers.

Their very existence was put in jeopardy. Can you imagine the power derived from defining your very existence in eternal terms? One with God, always was, always will be? That kind of power is all powerful. That kind of power allows you to confess an unwavering belief in God even in the face of actual death. That kind of power was not available to Peter when first questioned about being Christ’s boy. His fear was so evident as the cock crowed, just as Jesus had predicted. The power that let the same Peter request crucifixion upside down is but a small example of divine power realized. What is it about righteousness that strikes fear in the unrighteous? Why is the happily married man or woman the perfect target for the sinful suitor? Again, power realized is power exercised in the name of truth, in the name of faith and regardless of how History tells us that real power becomes a threat and must be destroyed. Is anybody trying to destroy you? Is anybody or anything trying to kill your spirit? Is your righteousness under attack? If not, then maybe you ain’t got no power. If not, maybe you’re not at peace with God. If you were, then everyone around you would know because you would be under attack, a target for temptation and an example of what God can and will do through His representatives here on earth.

Send your Message column (no more than 500 words) as a Word document and pasted text to cking@stlamerican. com and attach a photo of yourself as a jpeg file. Please be patient; we will run columns in the order received.

James Washington

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain recently took the position that any community in the nation has the right to prohibit Muslims from building a mosque.

Swagger Snap of the Week

An old school boogie down. Super Smooth Promotions, The Umbrella Group, and Hella Fly Promotions put on an old school bonanza for the “Remember When” Old School Jam Part 2 at J. Bucks last Saturday. Fishnet stockings,Adidas apparel, dookie gold chains, and Run DMC-inspired eyewear were all the rage. The Super Ego and Dano Da Mano hosted the well-attended event. As many displayed their best Runnin Man, DJ Flex was on decks spinning the likes of Bel Biv Devoe’s “Poison” and Sugarhill Gang’s “Rappers Delight”. It was clear that many came out in full celebration mode while workin’ every old school shufle known to man. Who says a party has to be at night? A colorful maxi dress was apparently every ladies outit of choice at the Day Party at Café Napoli Sunday afternoon. Many were perched in bejeweled sandals and a smile for the event that was put on by Close to Famous, 1st Fridays, Koncepts, and S&R Promotions. I soon realized that a nice laid back party doesn’t always have to happen at night as sponsors Bud Light Lime and Chambord Vodka provided complimentary cocktails and drinks. I especially wanted to give a shout out to my sista who was serving me Frenchie Davis likenesses as she beamed with full length Native-American-inspired earrings that I was tempted to snap off her ear lobes. I was almost moved to ask her where she got them from but was afraid of a Meryl Streep stare of death in return. Former newscasters, club owners, and promotions notables all decorated the bar and lounge area as the DJ spinned some chill cuts. Although not a large venue, I was quite impressed with Napoli. It seemed like an ideal place for such a mixer as the Day Party with the open lounge area, upscale décor, and very friendly staff. Everyone seemed to really be enjoying themselves as this would go down as a true grown and sexy event. If you are looking for a nice chill atmosphere that is Bebe’s Kids-free, make sure you stay on the lookout for the next Day Party event.

A Quintessential A-List Affair. An A-List night at Quintessential in St. Charles, it is a must-see event for music lovers. It was so live, in fact, that I almost didn’t mind the extended drive. Once I opened the door, I was swallowed by the enthusiasm of the crowd as many clapped, sang, and even danced to the twelve talents comprised of singers and instrumentalists that made up the A-List band. Vocalists Tendai Morris, Leonardo Price, Nick Gordon, Rachel Nichol, Blue, and Darryl Gerdine rendered high energy offerings like Soul For Real’s “Candy Rain,” Mary J. Blige’s “Fine,” John Legend’s “Green Light” and a high pitched squeal-down that even Philip Bailey himself could appreciate on Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “I’ll Write A Song for You.” The six-piece band was bringin’ the heat as they continued to jam to songs like “September,” “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.,” and “My, My, My” which caused street stragglers to bojangle their way inside only to get about-faced by the hosts. Dirty Lynt (drums), Ramon White (bass), Wade Long (keys), Lamont Patterson (lead guitar), Andrew Boostrom (trombone), and Terry Gorman (sax) all thrilled. Make sure you check out the next installment of A-Lists Nights at Quintessential August 28th. The Rise of the Hibernating Comedian. Did you hear? After searchin’ high and low and followin’ every leeting police chase, the Fabulous Fox managed to pin down the bulging eyeballs known as Chris Tucker for a stand-up tour date October 28th at 8pm. I for one am excited to see this. Just when I thought Chris had moved to “DaveChappelleville,” he surprises. This will be a rare treat deinitely worth checking out. Tickets will go on sale Friday, July 28th at 10a.m through Metrotix.

Something good for the grown folks. After the past few years of servin’ it up for the sake of the thundercats, Liquid Assets has teamed up with Club Envy to give the ________(insert new slang for grown and sexy). 80’s R&B star Alexander O’Neil will be in the house Saturday for a special performance and pre-show meet and greet at Envy (13141 New Halls Ferry). Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. and the show doors open at 8 p.m. I don’t know what to expect from O’Neil on the stage (though I’m praying for the best), but please believe I will be out that way to show support for an event that is catered to the 35 and up for a change. Some of my best friends are in that age range. This event is perfect for some of y’all borderline elderly folks who need to retire from 1st Fridays and be around folks your own age.

Who will be the opening act? I wanted to send special congratulations and well wishes to the inalists vying for the Budweiser Superfest opening slot and a chance to win $5,000. LaTisha Haynes, Theresa Payne, Sheneatha Frison, Andrew Boostrom, DeAndre Perryman, Cherilyn Evans, Monya Williams, Kristin Stimmage (Ms. Kriss), Erricka Brown (Erricka Cain) and Linda Tran (Mail Lee). The competition heats up as each contestant will be making their last ditch attempt at the Loft on Saturday at 8pm. Neo-soul singer Dwele will be headlining the event with a performance. Admission will be free until 11pm.

A special note to (your) self. To all my promoters, handlers, and event enthusiasts alike, please know that Delores loves you! But let’s get some things straight, mmmk? Although I may feature your event and mention it here in Partyline and elsewhere, it is not my obligation to paint a picture of perfection for your shapes! I understand your concerns, believe me I do. I know that it is a promoter’s desire to want their event publicized and recalled in the most lattering way possible. However, that is a job for a PR consultant, not me. Please know that my obligation as a reporter is to my readers as I try to recall events in the most accurate and fair way possible. It is nearin’a breakin’point for me to be badgered on what I can and cannot write and how I should I go about doin’ it. Do I sit up and tell you that maybe you shoulda swept up before you had an event at your local run down shack? No. Do I tell you who should and shouldn’t DJ or which tragic broad you should throw on the mic on a given Saturday? Of course not. So please, the next time you tap me or any of our staff’s shoulders for that matter and tell us how you want us to cover your event that we took time out to feature,

come now!

have the nearest seat! Here at the St. Louis American we love you…but

Tabitha and Patrick kick it @ Lola on Friday night

Tiffany, Chez and Ranell throw it back @ The Old School Party Saturday @ J. Bucks

Rob and Andrea hanging out Friday night @ Rosalitas Cantina

Bartenders Lauren Renee and Candy serve it up

Monday @ Envy for Industry Night

Will of the F.R.E.S.H Group and wife Joni spend some quality time Friday @ The City

Kim Moses of the Larry Hughes Foundation hanging out with her girls Tiffany and Sherise Friday night @ The City

Stuart and Evan Sunday afternoon @ Cafe Napoli

Jocelyn, Cameryn Ashlei and Charysma Monday @ Industry Night @ Envy

Keish, Keith and Star Sunday afternoon @ Cafe Napoli

Quita, Tasha and Tira got a sip under the sun Sunday afternoon @ Cafe Napoli

Philisia and Kevin Thursday night @ The Gramophone

Andrew, Cornelius, and Will Friday night @ Lola

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

St. Louis NativityMiguel Schools graduate 121

Special to The American

An icon of St. Louis education and the inspiring success of 121 students from low income neighborhoods were saluted at the third annual St. Louis NativityMiguel Scholarship Dinner.

The recent event honored former University of MissouriSt. Louis Chancellor Blanche M. Touhill and the 2011 graduates of the St. Louis NativityMiguel middle schools, more than 96 percent of whom will attend collegepreparatory high schools.The dinner raised $400,000 to benefit the graduates.

“Currently, I work at City Garden Montessori Charter School where I hope to become a great teacher,” said Shannon Adams, a De La Salle Middle School graduate, now attending Harris Stowe State University, in an address at the dinner.

“I can only hope that through my teaching I could help change the lives of some of my students … or who knows, maybe even the world.”

Adams is among the more than 90 percent of NativityMiguel graduates who have finished high school and

Touhill honored at scholarship fundraiser that generates $400K

are pursuing post-secondary education.Most are the first in their families to attend college. The event was a collaboration of ACCESS Academies, which supports three NativityMiguel schools –Central Catholic Academy, Holy Trinity Academy and St. Cecilia Academy – plus three independent NativityMiguel schools – De La Salle Middle School, Loyola Academy and Marian Middle School, along with 21 area college-prep high schools.

Touhill, former chancellor of the University of MissouriSt. Louis, is a third-generation public educator.She was honored for her passionate dedication to the advancement and accessibility of higher education to all St. Louisans, particularly urban youth, over a span of nearly 50 years.

Funds raised will help bridge the gap between the cost of private college-prep high school tuition and the funds available from each student’s family, the scholarships provided by 21 participating high schools across St. Louis, and the financial aid provided to each graduate from his or her NativityMiguel middle school.The event will help more than 260 youngsters in

Some of the 121 NativityMiguel students who were saluted at the third annual St.Louis NativityMiguel Scholarship Dinner.More than 96 percent of the graduates are attending St.Louis area college prep high schools.

the coming school year.

The NativityMiguel school model relies on rigor, resultstracking, and extracurricular and parental involvement.It includes extended school days (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and extended academic years (10-1/2 months), effective student guidance, tuition assistance, mandatory parental and community involvement, and four years of structured post-gradu-

ate support. More information on ACCESS Academies can be found at www.accessacademies.com

Power of persistence

In a collaborative effort, Wyman and The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis were awarded $204,000 from TG

Public Benefit Program to support persistence to college graduation among 300 students from economically-disadvantaged circumstances in St. Louis.

The program, Persistence Power, will benefit students from low- to moderate-income families who participate in Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program (TLP) and The Scholarship Foundation’s

Interest-Free Loan and Bravo Grant programs.Services include summer orientation sessions for rising college freshmen; preparing them for the psychological and financial transitions related to college; and providing Scholarship Foundation Bravo grants for qualified Wyman students. The program aims to improve the chances that high school students bound for college become college graduates. Experienced professional staff work with students from their senior year of high school through the end of their sophomore year in college, integrating financial, psychological, and institutional supports for persistence. Wyman, The Scholarship Foundation, and TG Public Benefit Program are partners in The St. Louis Regional College Access Pipeline (CAP) Project.The overall regional goal is to increase the proportion of students in the St. Louis region who earn a higher education degree to 50 percent by 2020, and this collaborative effort will not only contribute to that goal but will also provide possible models for replication in the region and beyond.