‘Stand your ground’
against racism
Reflections on the Trayvon Martin case
We must support the call for full prosecution of George Zimmermann. And, we must do more.
By Adebowale Walle Amusa For The St.Louis American
Racism is a curable disease of the heart. It blinds people to the full humanity of others. It is a net contributor to ignorance and a state of semi-consciousness about the humanity of others. In its individual form it can be simply annoying or deadly. Its institutional form is the deadliest.
JULY 14, 1937 –MARCH 20, 2012
Bishop Ellis says, ‘Amen’
Bishop Willie James Ellis Jr. passes at age 74
By Chris King Of The St.Louis American
“He was the kind of minister who believed God’s mission for him was to work both sides of the River Jordan.” – Congressman Bill Clay on Bishop Ellis
His wife of 53 years and his vast prayer circle were not at all surprised when the last word that Bishop Willie James Ellis Jr. uttered before he passed was, “Amen.” Bishop Ellis, retired longtime pastor of the New Northside M.B. Church and civil rights leader, passed Tuesday, March 20, 2012 after a long illness at the age of 74. “All day yesterday, the song kept coming to me – ‘Let the Church Say Amen,’” said his widow, First Lady Beverly Elaine Ellis. “So I knew it was okay. Everybody I talked to, that’s what they’re
See ELLIS, A7
The Trayvon Martin case is an example of this deadly disease. Both the individual and institutional variants are evident and intertwined. George Zimmermann, 28, the killer in this case, could not conceptualize the full humanity of a young, innocent, unarmed black teenager who was walking home after pur-
Dancing the spirit
Kali Royka,assistant choreographer for Afriky Lolo,performed with the troupe Friday night at the Regional Arts Commission in “The Spirit Speaks,”a benefit concert to fund the dance company’s participation in DanceAfrica 2012.For more photos of the performance,visit stlamerican.com.
By Rebecca S.Rivas
Of The St.Louis American
The basic right to vote is under attack by “James Crow Jr. Esquire,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who spoke at Harris-Stowe State University Friday as part of a conference on voting rights.
“Today we are fighting James Crow Jr.Esquire. He’s a little more polished than his daddy.”
– Al Sharpton
When thousands marched from Selma to Montgomery in 1965,
“they were fighting Jim Crow,” Sharpton said.
“Today we are fighting James Crow Jr. Esquire.
He’s a little more polished than his daddy. He talks in a more refined way. But the results and the goals are the same.”
Sharpton kicked off the “Voting Rights
Symposium: Protecting Our Most Fundamental Constitutional Right” event, organized by U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, the university, NAACPand the Advancement Project. At the same time Sharpton was riling up the crowd of 200 on Friday, a Missouri judge was
UMSLprogram sends 100 percent of graduates to college
By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American
Rashad Moungo, 18, a senior at Parkway North High School, recently got a glimpse into his future. On March 10, Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett gave the keynote speech at his graduation ceremony from the Bridge Program, a college preparatory program for high school students sponsored by University of Missouri – St. Louis. What struck him was Triplett’s analogy of success with the game of basketball.
“When you get the basketball, that’s you getting the ‘rock,’” he remembered her saying. “You have to make a play. You have to make a move. You have a scholarship opportunity; you have your life ahead of you. What are you going to do? To be
See
Trayvon Martin,17, was killed Feb.26
See DIRTY, A6
Photo by Wiley Price
Tell-all accuses Phaedra of grand theft auto and other crimes
A woman named Angela Stanton has written an explosive tell-all called “Lies of a Real House Wife: Tell The Truth and Shame The Devil.” In the book she discusses a crime ring that she says “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Parks was a part of – along with Park’s husband Apollo Nida, Apollo’s brother Everette and Stanton. While everyone in the ring did prison time except for Parks, Stanton claims that Parks was an active member of the racket.
Stanton gave details of the practices during an interview with Vibe Magazine.
“Once she introduced me to Apollo, it was strictly a business relationship that the two of them had. And at that time, they were making fraudulent insurance checks. I ended up catching a charge and going away to prison. I finally got out after doing my four months,
Phaedra and I got back together again … and we were all involved in a federal racketeering scheme against the federal government stealing Porches, Hummers, Cadillacs, Corvettes – any hot whip at that time, we had it! We would basically go to the car lot and write down the VIN numbers of the vehicles that we felt as if we wanted to keep or would make a good sale.”
Stanton went on to say she’s coming forward because Phaedra didn’t keep her promise to represent her in court or take care of her children while she did a five year bid.
Marvin Sapp denies dating ‘basketball wife’
Reports that the popular pastor/gospel artist and ex-fiance of pro-player
Stephen Jackson became an item after meeting and exchanging phone numbers at the “How Sweet the Sound” event in Los Angeles last fall set the rumor mill on fire. Since their initial encounter, an anonymous source reported to several media outlets that Pastor Sapp allegedly flew Showalter in to attend his church, Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapid, MI and she accompanied him to the Stellar Awards in Nashville.
Bobby Brown shopping bio-pic
definitely have to go back in and revise the ending of the movie. This is such a sensitive subject which is why we did not push the fact that we have a script for the Bobby Brown story so soon. We definitely wanted to give it some time to disseminate just out of respect to the family, friends and fans of Whitney Houston.”
Contrary to speculation about his love life, Grammy-nominated gospel artist Pastor Marvin Sapp says that he and “Basketball Wives L.A.” star Imani Showalter are “just friends.”
On the blue carpet at the March 16 recording of ”Celebration of Gospel” in Los Angeles it was confirmed that the pair are not dating – even though both were at the show. She was in the audience while he performed.
With the renewed interest in all things
Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown is once again attempting to sell his self-penned bio-pic.
The script, The Bad Boy of R&B: The Bobby Brown Story, was written by Bobby Brown and Michael A. Pinckney in late 2011 but at the time no studio was interested. Now the script is making the rounds in the wake of his ex-wife Whitney Houston’s untimely passing last month at the age of 48.
“We [Bobby Brown and I) actually wrote the script back in November and the movie lightly touches on their life & marriage together,” Pickney told the Carlton Jordan Blog. “We will now
No more baby leave for Queen Bey
According to the New York Post, Jay-Z is already said to be working on a blockbuster comeback world tour for Beyoncé.
Jay has reportedly approached Live Nation about a $150 million deal for Beyoncé to tour almost immediately after the birth of their daughter Blue Ivy in January. Beyoncé has a joint management deal with Jay’s Roc Nation and Live Nation. “Just weeks after the birth of Blue Ivy, Jay met with Live Nation to discuss a tour for Beyoncé,” an anonymous source told the paper. “He wanted a deal worth about $150million, but they countered with a lower offer.” Beyoncé had earlier hinted that she may tour again this year.”
Sources: Allhiphop.com, Vibe.com, Carlton Jordan.com, Eurweb.com
Beyonce´
Phaedra Parks
Annie Malone announces 2012 May Day event dates
American staff
This year’s May Day Festivities will commence with the Annual Annie Malone Kick-Off Barbecue featuring McDonald’s Music Festival on Friday, April 27 in Kiener Plaza, 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. The Annual Annie Malone May Day Parade will begin promptly on Sunday, May 20 at 1 p.m. along Market Street between Jefferson and Broadway in downtown St. Louis.
“As we prepare for our May Day Events, we are seeking additional sponsors and volunteers whose generosity will ensure children and families without a place to go can depend on Annie Malone and our services,” says Angela L. Starks, CEO of Annie Malone.
“This is not only a fundraiser; it truly has a deeper meaning to individuals who have used or may need to use our services. We want our community to know we are here and available to them in their time of need.”
Delsie Boyd, 2012 May Day Chairman, said this year early birds
that register by March 31 with a minimum of three vehicles will receive an additional vehicle free. After the deadline, parade registrations will receive a 10 percent discount on every fourth vehicle. “We highly encourage interested participants to reserve space early as the deadline for entry specials will end soon,” Boyd says. This year’s celebration theme is “Annie Malone – Embracing Children & Families.” The theme colors used as a part of the parade judging criteria includes kelly green, white, black and gold.
Vickie Newton of KMOV-TV and Hubert Hoosman, President and CEO of Vantage Credit Union are the 2012 Honorary May Day Chairs. The parade will be led by Michael McMillan, St. Louis City License Collector; Ron Himes, Founder & Producing Director, The Black Repertory Theatre; Chingy, Platinum National Recording Hip Hop Artist; and Marvin Neals, Cardinal Ritter College Prep Basketball Coach. All been selected to serve as the 2012 Parade Grand Marshals.
Entry fees for the parade are: $300 for large trucks, hummers, and diesel
2011 May Day Parade participants.
Senator challenges ESL mayor
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (who was born in ESL) has urged East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. in recent months to focus on public safety and end nightclub and liquor sales at a “reasonable hour” as a deterrent to violence.
Last year, Durbin asked the FBI and ATF to make crime reduction a priority in East St. Louis by providing resources to focus on crime reduction. They complied.
Durbin also recently announced that $400,000 in federal money would be used to purchase security cameras, lighting and fencing in ESL housing projects.
trucks (each), $250 for decorated automobiles and floats (each), $85 for motorcycles (each), $60 for horses (each), and $60 for multi-cultural performing groups. Marching units (school bands) may enter at no charge. Vendor food booth reservations are available for a fee of $175 and nonfood booths are $150.
All vendors are required to display a vendor permit issued by Annie Malone and shall be responsible for securing all required permits from the city of St. Louis. Parade and vendor applications are available now for distribution and online at www. anniemalone.com
This year, checks will not be accepted after Friday, May 11 and parade registration will end on May 14, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Credit cards are also accepted for pre-paid and on-site barbecue purchases, as well as pre-paid parade entries and booth registrations.
For more information, contact Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center at 314-531-0120 or visit www.anniemalone.com
Parks all the evidence he needs to step up and do the right thing.”
In the meantime, Mayor Parks has ordered that all clubs except the Casino Queen must stop selling booze at 1 a.m. until further notice, adding, “This has nothing to do with Sen. Durbin’s request.”
Parks, in a February 28 written response to Durbin and “All Media,” said he “vehemently disagrees” with Durbin’s “continued request for the City to shut down sales of liquor” at an earlier hour, adamantly stating that “WE WON’T DO IT!”
Then, to justify his refusal, Parks went on to inform Durbin that ESL is “on pace to collect almost $140,000 in regular liquor license fees” in 2012.
Senator Durbin eloquently addressed this in his written response to Parks: “Mayor Parks says he cannot afford to lose $140,000 in fees these clubs pay to the city each year. I have a question for Mayor Parks: Eight people were shot down at the clubs in the last six months and your city leads the nation in murder and violent crime. Is $140,000 in fees worth that?”
But that was before last weekend, when two men were shot outside of Club Flava and one man killed outside of Club 103, both in East St. Louis. Sen. Durbin immediately responded, stating, “This weekend’s tragic and fatal violence at East St. Louis late nightclubs should give Mayor
And, following a subsequent hearing, the City’s liquor board hit Club 103 with a $1,000 fine and a 30-day suspension. Parks stated that the punishment was the maximum penalty allowed under Illinois law, but wished the board could have doubled the penalty. Club Flava’s punishment was still pending at press time.
That’s quite a reversal from Parks’ previous rhetoric and, to his credit, is a step in the right direction.
This is the same tap dance that Mayor Parks does every time that violence or deaths occur on the East Boogie nightclub scene. The club owners usually receive some miniscule fines and some “toughsounding” rhetoric from Parks, but at the end of the day it has been business as usual.
Mayor Parks should go a step further by making the 1 a.m. cutoff of liquor sales a permanent measure instead of a temporary fix to a major problem.
I only hope that if I were to cruise by Club 103 and Club Flava, 30 days from now (wearing my trusty bullet-proof vest, of course), that they won’t be open and selling liquor until the wee hours of the night.
If you like my column, then you will love my radio show on WGNU-920am every Sunday from 4-5 pm. Please tune-in and callin. I’d love to hear from my St. Louis American readers. Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com
Missouri Attorney General Consumer Alert: Mortgage Settlement Information Forum
Missouri has joined in a landmark national agreement that settles many allegations of foreclosure abuses, unfair mortgage servicing practices and fraud by five of the nation’s largest banks: Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Ally Financial.
You may be eligible for direct payments if you were foreclosed on by one of these banks between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2011.
You may also be eligible for principle reduction and other benefits if your mortgage is held by one of these banks and you owe more than your house is worth.
If Missourians do not claim their benefits under the agreement, consumers in other states will claim this money for themselves.
Come to the St. Louis County Chamber, Plaza Level, 41 S. Central Avenue, Clayton on March 28th at 12pm or 6pm to find out more and to register with the Attorney General’s Office. You can also come to the Wohl Center, 1414 N. Kingshighway, St. Louis on March 26th at 12pm or 12th and Park Center, 1410 S. Tucker, St. Louis on March 26th at 6pm.
Photo by Wiley Price
James Ingram
EDITORIAL /COMMENTARY
Nixon should appoint Judge Quigless
A conservative, white Democrat from Jefferson County (which was 97 percent white in the 2010 Census) who spends his political capital very sparingly, Gov. Jay Nixon does not often give progressive or black Democrats much to cheer about. But he did deliver big time last week when he vetoed bills that would have dramatically impacted civil rights (House Bill 1219) and worker protections (Senate Bill 572) in Missouri. As Nixon said, HB1219 would have made it “easier to discriminate against people with disabilities or cancer, or against women, older workers and minorities”; and SB572 would have weakened important workplace protections. With a Republican super-majority in both houses of the Missouri Legislature, there is little hope of progressive legislation reaching the governor’s desk, but Nixon once again has stopped very regressive public policy from being enacted. We applaud Gov. Nixon for these important vetoes.
However, more is expected of this governor –immediately.
Last week a second seat came open on the appellate bench in the Eastern District of Missouri. A panel of three judges already has been presented to Nixon, according to the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan process, to ill a previous opening on the same bench. That seat was vacated when Nixon appointed Judge George Draper, who had been on the Court of Appeals, to the Missouri Supreme Court. Draper’s appointment to the higher bench – only the second African American to ascend to the state’s highest court – left not one single black jurist on the Eastern District appellate court.
Nixon will ill two seats on the Court of
As I See It -
Appeals for this half of the state in the coming months. The state’s largest appellate court currently has no African-American judges of a total 14 when all the judges are seated. In all fairness – a critical issue to raise when we are talking about administering justice – Nixon should appoint at least one African American to this court. Given that 12 percent of Missouri residents are African-American, and we know race does play a role in judgments, it is simply not acceptable for this appellate court to be so sorely lacking in racial diversity.
The panel of three jurists recommended to Nixon to ill the opening left by Draper includes an eminently qualiied African American, Judge Angela T. Quigless. We can see why the commission recommended her for this appointment. She has 17 years of judicial experience in the circuit courts, with two stints as Special Missouri Supreme Court Judge. She practiced law for 10 years before being appointed to the bench. Quigless served as an assistant city counselor and prosecutor for the Circuit Attorney’s Ofice. Without reference to race, she is at least as qualiied as any of the three candidates (all women) on this panel.
But we urge Nixon to address the issue of race in this matter. The last ive appointments to this court were ive white men. Nixon appointed the last two. During the governor’s tenure he has appointed over 40 judges, and only three were African-American. This governor became part of Missouri history when he appointed Judge Draper to the Missouri Supreme Court, but now he must again become a force for fairness in the Missouri courts and appoint Judge Quigless to the Missouri Court of Appeals.
A Forum for Community Issues
Solving Missouri’s meth problem
We can all agree that the illegal manufacture and abuse of methamphetamine is a signiicant issue in Missouri and across the Midwest. Meth is a particularly insidious drug that destroys lives and ruins families. While some of my fellow legislators in Jefferson City continue to debate whether Missouri should enact a prescription mandate for safe and effective medicines containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) – such as Claritin-D and Mucinex-D – the more compelling question is whether or not a requirement would actually help solve the problem. A careful look at evidence around the country shows that even a draconian policy like a prescription requirement would have little effect on Missouri’s meth problem and could divert attention and efforts away from policy solutions that are more likely to strike at the core of the issue. The recent seizure of 15 tons of methamphetamine in Mexico reconirmed that the majority of meth sold in the U.S. is actually manufactured south of the U.S. border and is brought into the country illegally. Some oficials believe that Mexican meth makes up 80 percent of the illegal meth sold in the U.S. today. Just as troubling is the fact that much of the Mexicanmade meth found in the U.S.
is more potent than meth made here at home.
The sheer volume of the recent bust was staggering. It is important to note that Mexico has had a nationwide ban on PSE since 2008. Clearly, the ban has done nothing to stop meth manufacturing there. In Mexico, like Missouri, criminals ind a way to get around the law and change their tactics. Right now, some my colleagues favor a proposal that would force all Missourians to obtain a prescription to buy certain cold and allergy medicines. If enacted, this policy would impose considerable burdens on responsible Missourians, including increased healthcare costs, long wait times at the doctor and lost wages due to unwanted time off work. A prescription requirement would do nothing to stop the inlux of methamphetamine to our country from Mexico and other foreign sources. In fact, it might create a new market for the Mexican drug cartels. For these reasons, state Representative Stan Cox and I have introduced anti-meth legislation that strikes the right balance between protecting citizens’ rights and going after meth criminals. This bipartisan legislation would lower the legal limit of PSE that one person can purchase or possess, making it more dificult for drug dealers to buy enough PSE to make a signiicant supply. It would also make medicines containing PSE available only by prescription for those who have had a drug conviction on their record.
The STOP METH legislation would continue to provide law enforcement with the best tool available for gathering information on attempted illegal meth purchases. The real-time, stop-sale technology is called NPLEx (National Precursor Log Exchange) and it records information on every sale and attempted sale of PSE. Unlawful attempted purchases are blocked right at the point of sale. With NPLEx, pharmacists and law enforcement oficials are gaining the upper hand against meth criminals and would-be criminals. According to a new poll released on March 6, a majority of Missourians – by a margin of 16 percent – favor an approach like the Stop-Meth bill over a prescription mandate. The STOP METH bill would certainly it that mold. Missouri’s meth problem is a frustrating one and is made more complicated knowing that we have little control over what happens across our state and federal borders. There’s no doubt that winning the war on meth will require comprehensive solutions of which NPLEx must be a central part. What’s equally certain is that a prescription mandate is not the right approach. The STOP METH bill offers a balanced way forward, and it’s the right one for Missouri. I hope my fellow Missourians will urge their state legislators to join me and Representative Cox in support of this important bill.
COMMENTARY
Santorum needs Newt
If Rick Santorum wants to keep Mitt Romney from wrapping up the Republican nomination before the convention, he should encourage Newt Gingrich to stay in the race, not drop out.
Not everyone buys this theory. The doubters include Santorum – who keeps shoving Newt toward the exit – as well as quite a few leading conservatives, including Family Research Council head Tony Perkins and inluential blogger Erick Erickson. They want to see a two-man contest between a “Massachusetts moderate” and a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.
The “throw Newt from the train” people think the math is on their side, but it isn’t.
From the primaries and caucuses held so far, we know that the Romney vote is much smaller than the anti-Romney vote. In Ohio, for example, Romney managed a slim victory with 38 percent versus Santorum’s 37 percent. But Gingrich, meanwhile, drew nearly 15 percent. Add those voters to Santorum’s, and Romney would have suffered a shattering defeat.
Santorum and Gingrich are both campaigning on the premise that Romney is not a genuine conservative. Both candidates draw support from self-described “very conservative” Republicans. Since
Gingrich – who supposedly had a “Southern strategy” for winning the nomination – couldn’t even beat Santorum in Alabama and Mississippi, it’s clear who would have the better chance against Romney, mano a mano.
But this logic ignores the subtleties of the delegate math. To win the nomination, a candidate needs the support of 1,144 convention delegates. According to projections from The Associated Press, at this point Romney has 481 delegates; Santorum has 252; Gingrich has 128; and Ron Paul has 48.
By the AP’s count, 1,356 delegates remain up for grabs in the remaining primaries and caucuses. That’s right, we haven’t even reached the halfway point.
Both Santorum and Gingrich say their goal is to keep Romney from reaching the magic number of 1,144 before the convention. After the irst ballot, they would count on being able to persuade Romney’s delegates to abandon him in favor of a more authentic conservative.
This is a smart strategy, because it is almost inconceivable that Santorum or Gingrich could win the nomination any other way. Santorum would have to win roughly two-thirds of all the delegates at stake in the remaining contests to secure the nomination before the convention. Gingrich would have to win even more. Romney needs to win just half the remaining delegates. But that’s still no cakewalk, even with Romney’s vastly superior resources and organization.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Correction
Staging the Buddha was not a production of Prison Performing Arts, as reported last week. The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts recruited the troupe of actors from a previous “Staging” project, as well as clients from St. Patrick Center.
Racist attacks on Obama
I agree with the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. in his column “Racist Southern strategy against Obama.” The president of our country deserves to be treated with the respect due his ofice, regardless of his position on any political issue.
I have noticed the increased level of attacks to the president that speaks to the arrogance of racist attitudes. What is even more alarming is that these attacks are becoming accepted as part of the political dialogue!
The recent Alaskan lawsuit against President Obama claiming that he does not have the standing to be a candidate is blatantly racist. I doubt that this would be a lawsuit if he was born of a non-citizen father from Europe. This lawsuit is an outright racist attack on the highest-ranking ofice of our country.
I am deeply disturbed by all of the hate-illed comments and racist overtones that are becoming commonplace in our media. It is up to the fair-minded and equality-loving citizens of this country to rebuff these individuals and put a stop to racism.
Denise Duarte Baltimore, Md.
Protect progress in public schools
The St. Louis Public School District is making signiicant gains, but current events may derail progress and even set the district back. While we have seen major improvements over the past three years in the district, we are also seeing it under attack.
Whether it is the Turner v Clayton court case in St. Louis County Circuit Court or legislation before the Missouri General Assembly, there are a
The headline from last Tuesday’s contests was that Santorum won in Alabama and Mississippi. But since delegates there and in most other GOP contests are awarded proportionally – and since there were also contests in Hawaii and American Samoa, where Santorum and Gingrich didn’t really compete – Romney ended the night having won 43 delegates, more than any other candidate. But Santorum won 36 delegates and Gingrich won 24 – meaning that while Romney increased his lead over the others, he fell short of winning half the delegates that were available. If he continues “winning” the delegate race at Tuesday’s pace, he will fail to wrap up the nomination before the convention. What if Gingrich dropped out? It’s reasonable to assume that much of his support would go to Santorum, but not all of it. My interpretation of what we’ve learned from exit polling so far is that Santorum’s voters tend to doubt Romney’s steadfastness on social issues, while Gingrich’s supporters tend to doubt that Romney is a true small-government conservative. Gingrich voters who put less emphasis on social issues – or who doubt Santorum’s commitment to small-government principles – might well turn to Romney instead. Given the Romney campaign’s deep pockets, Santorum would face a blistering barrage of negative ads in every state. Legitimate questions about Santorum’s electability would be raised nonstop.
and
for
variety of proposals that could allow thousands of St. Louis children to attend districts in the county paid for by the district. If students and funding leave the district, progress will be lost.
SLPS is the city’s school district, and 25,000 of our children attend district schools each day. In the last three years, reading and math skills have improved at a rate exceeding statewide averages. Attendance is up and so is the graduation rate.
There are many great schools in the district – Dunbar Elementary, Vashon High School, Woerner Elementary, Nance Elementary School, L’Overture Middle School, Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, Metro Academic and Classical High School are just a few. If you visit these schools, you will see students engaged in learning with great teachers. You will see technology in classrooms, and new upgrades to the buildings. Under the leadership of Kelvin Adams, I have seen great strides. The St. Louis Public Schools are our schools, and they are on the right track. Let’s make sure that progress continues.
Michael McMillan License Collector, City of St. Louis
Print the Blue Book
To Gov. Jay Nixon, Please do not take our “oficial manual, State of Missouri,” from “We the American People of this Great State of Missouri.” It is paid for by the taxpayers’ dollars, which I consider a great investment of we the people’s hard-earned tax dollars. The “Manual” is very informative, giving us every department, what their job entails, so we know what is expected, as well as what we deserve from our elected oficials. Salaries are also exposed for all state oficials and employees with titles revealed. Ah! To know where some of our hard-earned tax dollars are going! The “Blue Book” is available online – wonderful for those who have computers. I do not have a computer, don’t want one. It is much simpler to go to a shelf at home, grab the book
letters are
– read. My vote is to continue printing our “Oficial Manual State of Missouri” in book form, along with informing the taxpayers it is available by contacting the Secretary of State’s ofice and asking them to mail it to you. It’s as simple as that! Jen Sievers, Jackson, Mo.
State Rep. Chris Carter III
Urban farming and education event
Yours Market Inc., 8005
North Broadway, will present “Yours Future: Food, Health, Farming, and Fun” 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. Saturday, March 31.
Join SCOPE: Science and Citizens Organized, along with partners from Yours Market Inc., BAEO: Black Alliance for Educational Options to connect with importance of food, farming, agriculture, science, technology and education.
Volunteer carpools can be arranged, as needed, at Washington University. Contact Allison Doerr at 314-397-2551 or adoerr@scopemissouri.org.
250K in state tax credits for Big Brothers Big Sisters
Gov. Jay Nixon outlined $250,000 in Youth Opportunities
Program tax credits for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri while visiting the organization’s St. Louis facility last week.
Over the next year, BBBSEMO has established a goal of increasing to 2,900 the number of youth it serves in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, as well as in St. Charles, Jefferson and Cape Girardeau counties. The organization also wants to increase the number of youth it serves in its specialized mentoring program that is geared specifically to academic performance, called ABC Today!, to 850 students.
Nixon’s administration awarded the organization
$250,000 in Youth Opportunities Program incentives to help fund this expansion. These resources provide a boost to BBBSEMO’s fundraising, as the organization can solicit donors while offering them the incentive of having 50 percent of their donation returned to them in the form of state tax credits.
SLPS collects 1M for food pantries
St.Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams with Shaw Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School students celebrated a milestone.This year,SLPS collected 217,245 food items for Operation Food Search pantries in St.Louis,bringing its 10-year total of donations to more than 1 million:1,049,000. The top collecting schools for 2012 were Roosevelt High School,collecting the most food items at the high school level (13,189);Compton Drew ILC,collecting the most at the middle school level (17,000);andShaw VPA,collecting the most food items among elementary schools and highest total overall with 28,384,a new record.This was the second consecutive year that Shaw VPA finished as the top-collecting school.
Mobile Markets pulling into Metro stations
Metro is partnering with Sappington Farmers’Market to bring healthy farm foods to four Metro Transit Centers located in areas where nearby residents have little or no access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Farm to Family Naturally Mobile Market will sell affordably priced, fresh foods including locally grown foods when in season, once a week from the end of March through October.
The Mobile Market will set up on the parking lots of these four Metro Transit Center locations:
Tuesdays: – 1-4 p.m. at Delmar Loop MetroLink Station located at 660
Rosedale in St. Louis
Wednesdays – 9-Noon at Riverview-Hall Transit Center located at Riverview Drive and Hall Street in St. Louis
Wednesdays – 3-5:30 p.m. at North Hanley MetroLink Station located at 4398 Hanley Road in Berkeley Fridays – 9-Noon at Emerson Park MetroLink Station located at 929 North 15th Street in East St. Louis. More information on the Mobile Market can be found at www.metrostlouis.org and www.farmtofamilymobilemarket.com.
Tax refunds: yours to keep, not lose
By Charlene Crowell Center for Responsible Lending
Each year as W-2s begin arriving in mailboxes, commercials start promoting a range of services to “help” consumers with tax preparation. These advertisements beckon consumers to take advantage of convenient and worry-free services.
In reality, however, many tax season services are less about convenience and more about taking a hefty portion of refunds consumers have already earned. Each year, high cost tax-related services drain an estimated $11 billion from the pockets of 30 million households with moderate and low-incomes. Two of the most prevalent and high-cost financial “services” are Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) and Refund Anticipation Checks (RACs).
ARALis a high-cost, short-term loan secured by the taxpayer’s expected refund. Interest rates on a typical RALare about 150 percent. The fee for the RALis in addition to the fee for tax preparation. Other add-on fees such as electronic filing, applications, and fees to cash the loan check, wind-up with many taxpayers spending more than 10 percent of their refund, just to get their own money a few days sooner.
According to FINRAInvestor Education Foundation, a national survey of self-reported RALusers showed that while 13 percent of African-Americans reporting using a RALin the last five years, just six percent of whites did.
Similarly, RACs, temporary bank accounts opened for the sole purpose of receiving tax refunds, are another costly loan. Once the refund is deposited, the lender issues the consumer a paper check or prepaid debit card and then closes the account. RAC fees vary, but as with RALs, consumers often elect to have the tax preparation costs deducted from their refund. RAC customers are also charged checking cashing and other add-on fees for this short-term loan.
Consumers most vulnerable to the lure of expensive RALs and RACs are either unbanked or under-banked but are also eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2011 and depending upon family size, the maximum EITC will range from $464 to $5,751. Anyone desiring to learn whether they qualify for this tax credit should visit IRS online at: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96406,00.html.
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), AfricanAmericans alone account for 36.9 percent of the unbanked – consumers without a personal account with either a bank or credit union. Further, Latino and AfricanAmerican communities together represent more than 60 percent of the nation’s unbanked households
Consumers with bank accounts who turn to non-bank fringe services for day-today money management are “under-banked” households. Under-banked households pay more for basic transaction and credit financial services, and additionally are more vulnerable to loss or theft. These families also, according to FDIC, often struggle to build credit histories and achieve financial security.
Rather than wasting a portion of tax refunds on RALs or RACs, consumers would be better served by accessing one of the free tax services available. These locations can be found online at: http://rspnsb.li/wxAmeA. Local IRS offices are available to assist or direct consumers to qualified preparers. Other nonprofit, social service agencies or those serving older residents can also offer referrals to qualified low and nocost tax assistance.
Most importantly, anyone who hires someone to assist them with their returns should be aware that IRS holds the tax filer accountable for their selection of a preparer. Every qualified tax preparer must sign the return and also enter their assigned Preparer Tax Identification Number. Tax preparers are also required to give taxpayers a copy of their own returns.
Tax refunds represent monies owed. Every consumer is entitled to keep as much of it as possible.
Charlene Crowell
successful, you are going to have to take risks and take shots. If you set the play up right, then you are going to make that shot and be successful. She opened my eyes to what it takes to succeed.”
Moungo was one of more than 500 students who graduated from UMSL’s “Saturday Academy,” where students learn skills to get into and stay in college. Every Saturday, students attend classes in math, science, writing and other areas critical for a successful transition into college. One hundred percent of the program’s graduates are admitted into colleges and universities.
process, financial aid and other topics.
Atypical Saturday for Mark McDaniel, a Bridge graduate and senior at Imagine College Prep High School, began with waking up at 6 a.m. and leaving his house at 7 a.m.
He’d hit up the McDonald’s for breakfast before starting class at 7:45 a.m. Then it was classes in math, science, English and college prep until noon. He feels the program helped him make the transition from high school to a college mindset.
“We were gaining wisdom by seeing real examples of how we apply our knowledge.”
– Rashad Moungo
The program continues to build upon the foundation it established in 1986, said Natissia S. Small, assistant dean of students at UMSLand director of the Bridge program.
“We continue to expand our program offerings to meet the educational, personal and professional demands necessary for students to achieve lifelong success,” Small said.
The program has built-in parent support with Saturday classes once a month focused on the college admissions
DIRTY
Continued from A1
hearing a lawsuit against a proposed amendment (SJR 2) to the Missouri Constitution that would require voters to show state-issued identification. It’s set to appear on the November ballot.
Missouri’s amendment falls in line with laws that states across the country have passed to make it harder for
“When you become a freshman on a new campus, and possibly in a whole other state, it’s a whole other ball game,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel plans on being ready when he attends Howard University in the fall, with a full scholarship to study political science. In fact, his life motto is, “Ignorance will never suffice for success. If you only go towards what is most popular, you will fall off the path you are on and end up becoming another statistic.”
Jamese Randle, a senior at Hazelwood West High School, said she wasn’t excited about giving up her Saturdays at first, but it paid off on her school work.
“It helped me understand things better,” Randle said.
by Wiley Price
“With math, we were able to bring problems in from school, and they helped us work through them.”
Americans – particularly African-Americans, the elderly, students and people with disabilities – to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot, he said. These measures include requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote and proof of citizenship to register, cutting back on early voting and adding additional barriers to voting for people with criminal convictions.
“Many of us don’t respond to civil rights unless it is
Moungo said most importantly, he takes away wisdom from the Bridge program.
“Wisdom is more or less the application of knowledge already learned,” he said. “We were gaining wisdom by seeing real examples of how we apply our knowledge.”
His science class wasn’t about complicated forms or
bloody,” Sharpton said. “When we talk about things like this, it is hard to energize us because we do not understand the complexity of the issue. First thing we need to understand is they purposely make it complex because they depend on the complexity to bring down the energy level of resistance.”
But the issue at hand is pretty simple, Sharpton said. It’s an attempt to disenfranchise a potential 5 millions voters around the country.
functions, he said. It was about real life examples of how science applies. For example, they learned about the science behind companies that produce potato chips and how those bags affect the environment.
“We learned through science how to apply that knowledge to the decisions we make in life,” he said.
McDaniel said he didn’t feel like he learned anything
Clay: ‘It’s a dirty campaign’
If civil rights activists cannot defeat the amendment in court and it passes in November, 254,000 Missourians may not be able to vote in the next election because they don’t have a state-issued photo ID, said Congressman Clay. “It’s going to rob us of our constitutional right to have access to the ballot,” said Clay. “It’s a dirty campaign.”
Out of 300 million eligible
new but he built on what he already knew. And by doing that, he and the other students were able to make the transition from high school to a “higher level of intelligence,” he said.
“We learned to project ourselves in a more business-like manner,” he said.
Moungo hopes to study prelaw or optometry at Saint Louis University. And he hopes to inspire younger generations, as he was inspired.
voters, there were 87 cases of voter fraud from 2002 to 2005, said U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. And in these cases the problems occurred during registration, when people provided false information.
“This legislation doesn’t deal with those problems,” Cleaver said. “This is one of the most embarrassing moments in our nation.”
Wisconsin is one of the states that passed a voter ID law. In 2008, President Obama won in Wisconsin by 414,000 votes. Right now in Wisconsin, there are 475,000 people who don’t have the kind of ID required by the new law, said U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin.
In 2008, a large number of young African Americans came out to the polls, she said.
Yet they might be barricaded in the future.
“This is an unbelievable statistic, but it’s true,” she said. “Seventy-eight percent of African-American males between ages of 18 and 24 don’t have the strict kind of ID that’s required in Wisconsin.”
State-issued IDs cost money, and for some, require an extensive process to obtain, said state Rep. Stacey Newman, who has led the fight against voter ID in the Missouri Legislature. Under our current laws, all voters are already vetted extensively
“I hope to be as motivational as Kacie because I hope to be a leader for our future generations through hard work,” he said. “I hope to pass on my knowledge to people younger than me, and to be an inspiration like she is. That is my hope for the future.”
before they ever get to the polls, Newman said.
Jones: $3M on fake fraud
State Rep. Tishaura O. Jones said that in a budget year where state legislators are asked to cut $500 million from health care and education, why would they want to spend an estimated $3 to $7 million on a implementing plan against “fraud” that doesn’t exist in the state?
Sharpton challenged the crowd to stand up and fight.
“We are asking you to protect what has been given to you,” he said, “and you don’t have enough time and enough consciousness to protect something that made your life better?”
On March 12, the Justice Department rejected Texas’ new voter ID law, saying it could disproportionately harm Latinos under the federal Voting Rights Act. The same day, a judge blocked a similar law in Wisconsin. The U.S. Justice Department also halted another in South Carolina in December. Civil rights advocates have worked tirelessly to challenge the laws.
“The reason they are bold is because we are not fighting back,” Sharpton said. “Rabbit hunting isn’t fun when the rabbit’s got the gun.”
For Wiley Price’s photo coverage, see stlamerican.com.
Photo
Mark McDaniel,a senior at Imagine College Preparatory High School,made the student presentation remarks during UMSL’s Bridge Program Celebration at the America’s Center on March 10.
Bishop Willie James Ellis Jr.
Shepherd and visionary
Willie James Ellis Jr. (Sonny) was born July 14, 1937 in Clarksdale, Mississippi; the eldest of four children born to Mr. Willie James Ellis Sr. and Mrs. Modia Lee Ellis.
He was a product of the St. Louis Public Schools and Sumner High School, where he was an avid member of the choir.
He and his high school sweetheart, also a choir member, Beverly Elaine Coleman, were married on July 26, 1958.
At Hopewell it was known that he was chosen by God with his inspirational singing, choir directing and active duties in the church.
On July 6, 1960 he received his ministerial license and was ordained on April 22, 1962.
On January 13, 1964, the Lord sent Rev. Willie James Ellis Jr. and First Lady Beverly Ellis (with their two daughters, Pamela and Rolanda) to become the Pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church at 3033 Semple Ave. This was a young man willing to suffer with the congregation through its financial burdens and spiritual upheavals.
On August 10, 1975, Rev. Ellis and the New Northside congregation of some 300 members moved to 8645 Goodfellow Blvd. in a gala march and ribbon-cutting ceremony culminating with a spirit-filled service. They marched into the new edifice singing, “We’ve Come This Far By Faith, Leaning On the Lord.”
Rev. Ellis was very involved in the community as a leader for civil rights, public schools, the Urban League, St. Louis County Housing Authority and Missouri State Public Defender’s Office. He was 2002 Chair of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education Pre-Musical 1,000 Voice Choir, and recently had been appointed to Missouri Kid’s First Program. Many have described him as “a man with a vision.” His belief in the institution of the family and being a father himself caused him to envision a child development center. In November 1990, the New Northside Child Development Center was opened.
In February 1995, members of the congregation were introduced to the “Jesus First Program,” a multi-million-dollar program for the development of the New Northside Baptist Church Family Life Center – Bishop Willie J. Ellis Complex. This complex was to house a sports complex for youth, activities for senior citizens, a chapel, banquet center and the child development center. He was Founder and served as President and CEO for the past 10 years.
In June 2001, Rev. Ellis became the first consecrated Bishop of the Philadelphia Assemblies of Full Gospel Churches in the Midwest, serving as Regional Bishop for five states.
MARTIN
Continued from A1 chasing Skittles and iced tea from a nearby store. In Zimmermann’s twisted mind, it seems, Trayvon’s life was unworthy.
This mentality, on a broader scale, led to genocide in Nazi Germany, 100 years of lynchings in the American Bible Belt, and feeds the ongoing disparities in arrests, trials and sentencing prevalent in our judicial system today. Zimmermann had no second thoughts about Trayvon Martin’s guilt. For far too many people like Zimmermann, melanin remains a badge of social degradation today in the 21st century as it was 150 years ago during slavery. Zimmermann demonized, devalued and destroyed Trayvon Martin, 17, with impunity. Zimmermann hopes a nation acclimated to the devaluation of the lives of black people will quietly accept his big lie of selfdefense.
Compounding this tragedy is the convergence of individual and institutional racism. The Sanford, Florida Police Department has refused to arrest Zimmermann for murder and for failure to obey a direct police order not to follow Trayvon Martin. The Seminole County, Florida prosecuting attorneys have failed to file charges against Zimmermann almost a month after the crime, though 911 calls from neighbors indicate Trayvon Martin
Bishop Willie James Ellis Jr.,who passed Tuesday at the age of 74,was a civil rights leader in St.Louis from Bill Clay Sr.’s first campaign for the Board of Aldermen through Fire Chief Sherman George’s dispute with Mayor Francis G.Slay.“We will not tolerate the firing or forced resignation of Chief George,”Bishop Ellis said of his friend and parishioner when leading this 2007 press conference.
ELLIS
Continued from A1
saying.”
His church family was well prepared. The New Northside congregation sang “Let the Church Say Amen” the Sunday just before he passed. It even touched his longtime friend who will deliver Bishop Ellis’ eulogy – and he was not even in St. Louis for that service.
“I got the call when I was traveling home from Atlanta Tuesday evening and I had a gospel station on and the first song that came on was ‘Let the Church Say Amen,” said the Rev. B.T. Rice, pastor of New Horizon 7th Day Christian Church.
Bishop Ellis’family and church family were singing the same song around the house yesterday as they prepared for his services this weekend.
They had more reasons to feel a calm finality on behalf of the departed than the providential “Amen” chorus.
“His daughter, Evangelist Rolanda Jones, preached two weeks ago, and we took him to see her,” said his widow. “He was so anointed at that point that people started falling out when they passed by him. When she was up there preaching, he kept calling, ‘Preach! Preach!’He saw her deliver her message.”
He also enjoyed another spiritual first during his last days when his grandson, William Ashton Spencer III, was called to ministry under his leadership. It was Bishop Ellis’first grandson to answer the call.
These emerging spiritual leaders join a long line of people who benefitted from Bishop Ellis’encouragement.
Retired Congressman Bill Clay enjoyed Bishop Ellis’
support starting from his first campaign for St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1958.
“Alot of people said I didn’t have a chance, but he was one of the few who said, ‘Keep on keeping on,’” Clay said.
The holy man’s attention to political reality was characteristic.
“He was the kind of minister who believed God’s mission for him was to work both sides of the River Jordan,” Clay said.
“He used to say one of his missions was to save souls on one side of the river, and another mission was to improve the quality of life on this side of the river. Too many preachers are only worried about salvation, they’re not worried about their flock here. He was always worrying about how to improve life and eliminate racism and even sexism –even back then.”
Pastor Rice already is working on that eulogy in his head.
“I have to figure out how to capture his entire legacy within a little time frame,” Pastor Rice said. “We have 47 years of ministry led by a visionary. His accomplishments were not only in his church but in the city, the state. I’ve got to figure out how to put all that into a capsule in my time allotted.”
Bishop Ellis himself seemed to understand best the meaning of our time allotted. The night he died, his wife, family and a “room full preachers” were sitting with him in the family room. “He started to breathe real hard,” his widow recalled his last struggle. “I told him it was okay if he wanted to go. Then he started to breathe slower until he succumbed. In 15 minutes, he was gone.”
Bishop Ellis is survived by his wife of 53 years, Beverly Elaine Ellis; two daughters, Pamela Jones and Rolanda Jones; a son, Tyrone Gibson; six grandchildren, Beverly Anderson, Ashley Delaney, Brittany Stamps, Hiram Kisart Jr., William Ashton Spencer III and Alexis Elaine Spencer and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at New Northside M.B. Church, 8645 Goodfellow. Evangelist Ruth Latchison Nichols will lead the praise service 6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at New Northside Conference, 5939 Goodfellow. The Rev. B.T. Rice will lead the funeral 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at New Northside M.B. Church, 8645 Goodfellow, with internment to follow at St. Peters Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Austin Layne. Condolences may be sent to the widow Beverly Elaine Ellis at 4108 Caballo Crossing Court, Florissant MO 63034.
was calling for help moments before Zimmermann fired the fatal shot.
These two agencies sworn to protect, defend and uphold the law claim to be hamstrung by Florida’s 2005 “Stand Your Ground” law. This law allows people to stand their ground and defend themselves with deadly force. In this case, it is clear Zimmermann neither stood his ground nor could he have been defending himself since he was the pursuer and aggressor who stated upfront that a black teenager walking by was “up to no good.” African Americans face so many big and small indignities every day that some of these institutions and individuals know it’s just a matter of time before other indignities grab and divert our attention. Hopefully, not this time. We must support the call for full prosecution of Zimmermann. And, we must do more.
Men and women of good will, regardless of race, gender, political-religious affiliation or station in life, must make sure Trayvon Martin’s death was not in vain. Let us celebrate the life, innocence and dignity of all unarmed American teenagers by naming American streets, highways, schools, parks, libraries and landmarks after Trayvon Martin. As men and women who value the dignity of the human personality, we must do no less.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin.
Bishop Willie James Ellis Jr.
Photo by Wiley Price
Photo by Wiley Price
Tishaura Jones iles ethics reform bill
State Rep. Tishaura O. Jones is a candidate for Treasurer of St. Louis rather than the Missouri Senate (or her current seat in the state House). Taking in her remarks on Monday announcing a new ethics reform bill, the EYE is sad to see her leave the legislative branch of government.
“Today, we’re here to tell the citizens of Missouri that we hear your cries for ethics reform,” she said, before offering a brief legislative history lesson. In 2010, state Rep. Kevin Wilson (R-Neosho) unanimously passed a comprehensive ethics reform bill, HB2300, out of committee. The majority Republican Party “played games with it,” she said, “stripped it of its most important provisions, put it into another bill, and dubbed it, ‘the greatest ethics bill in the universe.’” Earlier this year, the Missouri Supreme Court reversed the law.
“We were elected to be serious about ethics reform, not play games,” she said. “For more than a month, we’ve waited for action from the House Republican leadership on replacement legislation. Ensuring integrity and accountability in state government should be a priority for all lawmakers, and if Republicans won’t take the lead, then Democrats will.”
To emphasize the need, she cited a Center for Public Integrity report released just hours before her announcement. Missouri received an overall grade of C- on its integrity report card, with a D+ for legislative accountability, D- for lobbying disclosure and a lat F for public access to information and political inancing.
To ix the problem, Jones introduced a slight rewrite of HB2300, with two changes: the language about credit unions not being able to donate has been ixed and (what might be known as the Steve Tilley Provision) it requires that campaign money be held in low-interestbearing bank accounts and cannot be invested – for example, in a privately held bank, as Tilley has done with his campaign coffers.
The major holdover provisions include a $5,000 limit for campaign contributions from any one person other than the candidate in any one election to candidates for statewide ofice, state senator or representative, and all other ofices. It grants the Missouri Ethics Commission greater investigative authority, including the power to initiate investigations. It also limits the revolving door between legislator and lobbyist by imposing a one-year waiting period and makes it a crime to “pay for play” in currying an appointment or a speciic vote. Another set of provisions makes it speciically illegal to ile as a stalking horse or ield a candidate as one.
Naming the dirty alderman
Speaking of ethics, last week’s EYE about playing “name the dirty alderman” stirred up the mud just a little bit. A number of people, including former state Senator Maida Coleman, contacted the EYE to name the alderman and named him correctly.
Others got it very wrong.
Some haters on Alderman Antonio French manipulated our cartoon, adding French’s name, and posted the new cartoon on social media. In fact, French has not decided to run for citywide ofice, and the EYE has never heard a single shakedown story about French. (French said he was targeted by some people unhappy with his working to revoke a liquor license from a problem property in his ward.)
One of the businessmen discussed last week who got the shakedown call for supporting an opponent of the dirty alderman wanted it to be known why he didn’t come forward with a formal complaint. You go to the authorities, this man said, when you are afraid. When you are not afraid, you ignore the fool. This businessman did not intend for his venting at being subjected to a chump play to end up with his name in the newspaper
or his testimony being taken down by a prosecutor.
A resident of the dirty alderman’s ward called, guessed his identity correctly and then promised to come forward with a lot more evidence of this sort against the alderman. She said he also likes to turn city inspectors and police against people who don’t support his campaign efforts. The EYE hopes this citizen makes good on her vow to come and see us with her lawyer.
Gov for Life
Gov. Jay Nixon likely has his eye on a national ballot or major government post, but if he can’t make a play for POTUS or VP he could have a shot at Governor for Life if the Republican super-majority in Jefferson City keeps giving him really bad right-wing bills to veto and in so doing solidify his base. The latest: House Bill 1219 and Senate Bill 572, which would have dramatically weakened civil rights and worker protections, respectively. Nixon rightly said HB1219 would have made it “easier to discriminate against people with disabilities or cancer, or against women, older workers and minorities,” which reads like a constituency list for the Democratic Party. Nixon’s veto pen is just checking off votes and other support for him in November.
Three-way in the 5th
Last week the EYE said it was hard to believe that the 5th
Senate District would remain a two-way battle between incumbent Robin Wright-Jones and state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, and indeed term-limited state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford is now in. Mott Oxford is a progressive battler who will have to raise funds in a hurry. Unlike Wright-Jones and Nasheed, she is not black, and this Senate seat is now regarded as a black seat, so she can expect some pushback. Like many observers, the EYE speculated about this possibility months ago, raising
the specter of a split black vote handing victory to a non-black incumbent. Nasheed’s friend and sometimes advisor Eric E. Vickers wrote a long letter to The American suggesting the split black vote is an urban myth. We shall see.
‘Lazy v. Crazy’
The EYE got grief from some quarters last week for mentioning a piece of trash talk from the corridors of the
state Capitol, where lobbyists struggling to igure out which horse to back between WrightJones and Nasheed had dubbed this contest “Lazy vs. Crazy.” Damon Jones, a political consultant who also happens to be Robin’s son, suggested that The American departed from its mission of uplifting the black community by printing this trash talk. To the contrary, the EYE deals in plain talk. The lobbyists struggling to handicap this race were not saying that all black people or all black politicians are lazy or crazy; they were offering a crude but candid opinion of these two particular candidates. The EYE could list a great many black politicians who would never be described as Lazy or Crazy, starting with Damon Jones’ buddy state Rep. Clem Smith The fact is, if the black community had a strong consensus candidate in this race, Jeannette Mott Oxford would not be smiling and dialing right now.
EYE drop
Speaking of Damon Jones, he has iled for Democratic committeeman in the 6th Ward. The EYE hears that the reason Damon iled was the current committeeman John Maxwell had plotted with Martin Casas where the incumbent would not ile and Casas could slide in unopposed, giving Casas a leg up in his campaign for state representative. Now that Damon has spoiled the party, let’s see if Maxwell suddenly decides to hold onto his seat.
State Rep. Tishaura O. Jones is a candidate for Treasurer of St. Louis.
Obituaries
Cynetta, Robert, Charles, Natalia and Reggie; your grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. May your soul rest in peace. We love you!
Lorna Ross-Carter
Born April 10, 1953, Lorna Ross-Carter passed away peacefully March 12, 2012. Beloved mother, grandmother and sister. Lorna loved to laugh and was passsionate about living life to the fullest. She will never be forgotten by the lives she touched and will be greatly
missed and always loved. She leaves to cherish her memories: sons, Eddie and Curtis Carter; brothers, Norman and Anthony Ross (Debbie); sisters, Margaret Wagner (Tim), Myrtle Dickson (Roger), and Vicki Tyler; grandchildren, Donovan, Eddie, Jaylin and Kaylin Carter; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, nieces and nephews.
Derek Huggins
Derek Huggins
My dearest husband you graced this earth with your arrival on April 28, 1961. What a gift for us to share in your teachings, poetry, mentoring, spirituality and love. I think of your smile as you devised your plans. What a beautiful smile. I see your stare as you questioned nature. What an intelligent man. You used to call yourself “that brother from another
Kimbrough keynotes Urban League dinner
Kimbrough, Urban League keynoter Dr. Walter S. Kimbrough, President of Philander Smith College,
the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 94th Annual Dinner on March 12. At the dinner, Kimbrough visited with Bishop Geoffrey Dudley, pastor of New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church; Francella Jackson, of the East St. Louis Police Department; and ESL Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. St. Louis has the fourth largest affiliate of the National Urban League with 207 employees and a $20 million budget.
planet,” because you had such depth. Yes, you were truly your poetry in motion. I will miss you dearly. Ours was truly divinely orchestrated. That is why only you and I understood. Still, I understand Matthew 22:29-30. So, I will keep your smile in my heart and your words in my soul. Until we meet again my brilliant Derek Huggins, I will stay true to your legacy. Peace my angel.
Love, Betrece Huggins
Virginia Gaston
March 22, 1927— March 10, 2011
We didn’t know that morning that God was calling your name;
In life I loved you dearly, in death I do the same. It broke my heart to lose you, but you didn’t go alone; A part of me went with you. Nothing seems the same now; your love is still my guide. Although I can’t see you; you are still my guide; Always in my heart and by my side.
Your loving daughter
Shirley Whitney Polk
Shirley Whitney Polk was born July 20, 1935 in St. Louis, MO to parents Blunt and Emma
Whitney. She was married to her loving husband Albert (Al) Polk for 51 years. To their union, two sons were born, Allen Whitney and Micheal Whitney Polk, who preceded her in death. Shirley was employed at BJC Hospital for 43 years in nursing service. She retired in 2006. She was a board member of the SkinkerDebalivier Neighborhood Community for 20 years and a resident for 43 years. She was also a 28th Ward Democrat member for 20 years as well as VP and co-owner of SPP Productions Fashion Model-
ing and Talent Agency of St. Louis. Shirley was the author of a cookbook titled Shirley in the Kitchen. She was a lifelong member of Transfiguration Lutheran Church of St. Louis at 1807 Biddle Street. Shirley leaves to cherish her memories: a devoted husband, Albert (Al) Polk; a son, Allen Whitney; grandson, Allen Whitney (Teisha); great-grandson, Aiden; great-granddaughter, Aiyana; brother-in-law, Jack D. Polk of Atlanta, GA; sister, Nora Whitney; sister-in-law, Pat Polk of Kankakee, IL; a special niece, Diana Benjamin of Los Angeles, CA; cousin, Naoma Griffin of Bolivar, TN; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. I love you. I know you fought a good fight.
Frank Jones
Shirley Polk
Virginia Gaston
President
keynoted
Five new elementary principals in Ferg-Flor
Robert Ricker, Malinda Ice, Dr. Rodney Lewis, Emily Turner, Julie Whyte
Special to The American The Ferguson-Florissant School District hired ive new elementary school principals for the 2012-2013 school year. The hirings are effective July 1, and they were approved by the Board of Education during a special session following last Wednesday’s board meeting. Malinda Ice will be the principal of Robinwood Elementary School in Florissant. Ice is an experienced educator who has served as a teacher-leader for more than 15 years. She is currently an assistant principal at Mason Ridge Elementary in the Parkway School District. Ice is a National Board Certiied Teacher who specializes in analyzing data to effectively evaluate teachers and ultimately improve instruction. Ice
received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree in educational leadership from Cameron University in Oklahoma. She will earn a doctorate in educational leadership from Maryville University in December of 2012. Rodney Lewis will be the principal of Grifith Elementary School in Ferguson. Lewis serves as an assistant principal at Valley Park Elementary School in the Valley Park School District. He has held this position for two years. Prior to that, he was an administrative intern for two years in the Parkway School District. Lewis’ hallmarks include creating innovative professional development opportunities for teachers and building purposeful relationships with students, staff and parents. He
earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Barry University in Florida, master’s degrees in teaching and educational administration from Lindenwood University, and a doctorate in education from Maryville University. Robert Ricker will be the principal of Commons Lane Elementary School in Florissant. Ricker is an assistant principal at Drummond Elementary School in the Pattonville School District. He has served in this post for four years. Ricker has a keen understanding of the school improvement process and data analysis as it relates to student achievement. Ricker received his bachelor’s degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University and his
master’s degree in educational administration from Lindenwood University.
Emily Turner will be the principal of Lee-Hamilton Elementary School in Ferguson. Turner is an assistant principal at Daniel Boone Elementary School in the Warren County School District. She has served in this capacity for three years. During her time at the school, she has developed positive relationships with staff, students and parents. Turner implemented a tracking system to evaluate student progress, and she works tirelessly to ensure students success.
Turner received her bachelor’s degree in education from Maryville University, master’s degree in educational administration from Missouri Baptist University and she will earn a doctorate in education from Maryville University in December of 2012.
Julie Whyte will be the principal of Walnut Grove Elementary School in Ferguson. Whyte currently serves as the principal of Eastwood Hills Elementary School in the Raytown School District. She has been an elementary principal for more than 10 years and has extensive knowledge in data collection, parent and community outreach, and increasing student achievement.
Whyte earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of MissouriColumbia, master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Michigan State University, and her educational specialist degree from the University of Central Missouri.
“Each of these talented individuals will contribute to our mission of high achievement for every child through excellence and equity every day,” said Art McCoy, superintendent. “We are excited to welcome these leaders to the Ferguson-Florissant family.”
President, Senator, Citizen
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill was honored recently to host St. Louis civil rights activist and attorney Frankie Muse Freeman and to help arrange Attorney Freeman’s personal visit with President Barack Obama. Freeman is a pioneering American civil rights attorney who was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in 2007 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta for her leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement. She will be honored as the 2012 St. Louis Citizen of the Year.
Who knew you had so many doctors in the family?
Our founder, Dr. C. David Molina believed every person deserved respect and access to quality care. He believed everyone should be treated like family. Dr. Molina’s dream has grown from a small community medical clinic into a national organization devoted to providing healthcare services for those who need it most. We invite you to become part of our family tree.
New elementary school principals in the Ferguson-Florissant School District: Robert Ricker, Malinda Ice, Dr. Rodney Lewis, Emily Turner and Julie Whyte.
WE’RE HARD AT WORK ON WHAT MATTERS MOST IN
At Bank of America, we’re working every day to help support small businesses, homeowners and nonpro t organizations in Missouri. We’re lending, investing and giving to fuel the local economy and create stronger communities.
HERE’S WHAT WE’RE DOING:
14,666 Worked with Missouri homeowners facing nancial difficulty since 2008, to modify their mortgages. $3.45 MILLION Committed to Missouri nonpro ts since 2011, to help continue their good work. $86.8 MILLION Loaned to
To learn more about how Bank of America is hard at work in Missouri, please visit bankofamerica.com/facts
BUSINESS
Jamaica is ‘open for business’
PEOPLEON THE MOVE
Courtney Simms has been named new Director of Development for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, a nonprofit organization that provides civil legal assistance to low-income people in Eastern Missouri. Simms will be responsible for working with the Board of Directors as well as coordinating a comprehensive fundraising program. Simms previously served as Director of Resources for Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis for 10 years.
American staff
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA– Jamaica’s trade and investment agency, JAMPRO, recently convened the Jamaica Investment Forum 2012 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The two-day forum focused on business opportunities in the areas of Information and
Communication Technology, Tourism, Manufacturing, as well as privatization and development projects.
Staged in collaboration with Compete Caribbean and its joint funding agencies, including the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the Canadian International Development Agency, the forum
was supported by the Jamaica Tourist Board. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller told attendees the objectives of the forum were to promote investment opportunities “in Jamaica’s most promising sectors with the highest job-creation potential,” to raise Jamaica’s profile as “a viable and credible
David L. Steward: 2012 Black Engineerof the Year
USBE&IT
At the 26th annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards held recently in Philadelphia, David L. Steward of St. Louis, Chairman of the Board of World Wide Technology Inc., became the first non-engineer to be awarded Black Engineer of the Year Award.
World Wide Technology Inc.(WWT) is an awardwinning systems integrator and one of the largest minorityowned businesses in the United States.
World Wide Technology Inc. (WWT) is an awardwinning systems integrator and one of the largest minority-owned businesses in the United States. Steward is an exemplary leader, climbing to the top with sheer tenacity and building his business on the best American values.
One of eight children, hard work was the mainstay of his struggling family, which moved from innercity Chicago to a small house in his mother’s hometown in Clinton, Mo., after his birth in 1951. All eight Steward children were expected to help with daily chores. Since their house had no indoor bathroom, it was the daily responsibility of all the children to empty chamber pots first thing each morning, as well as milk the family cows, tend to the pigs, hang clothes on the line and spread the ashes out of pot-bellied
See JAMAICA, B6 See
David L.Steward of St.Louis,the first non-engineer to be awarded the Black Engineer of the Year Award, with Tyrone D. Taborn,publisher and editor-in-chief of “USBE&IT Magazine,”at the recent BEYA Awards in Philadelphia.
Lionel J. Phillips has been elected to the board of the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation. The foundation provides needsbased tuition assistance scholarships to economically disadvantaged children throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Phillips has been with IBM Corporation for 35 years and currently serves in the role of Executive Systems Architect Manager.
Kacie Starr Triplett
Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett (Ward 6) will join with activists from across the nation at a workshop to promote reproductive justice rights within the faithbased community.The inaugural conference is sponsored by the Center for America Progress’ Faith and Reproductive Justice Institute. Triplett is Vice-Chair of the Legislative and Political committee of Planned Parenthood for the St. Louis Region Board of Directors.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Edward Jones renews naming rights to Dome
Last week St. Louis-based financial services firm Edward Jones announced the renewal of a naming rights agreement with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, extending for 11 more years the contract at the sports and convention facility that is the Rams’home field. The facility will continue to be called the Edward Jones Dome.
Under terms of the contract, Edward Jones will pay the Rams $42.3 million over the course of the 11-year agreement which extends from April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2025. The original contract term was 12 years at $32.7 million. It was Edward Jones’option to extend the original terms of the agreement.
“The naming-rights agreement with the Rams is good for our clients and for our firm because it helps extend recognition of Edward Jones nationally and internationally,” said Edward Jones Managing Partner Jim Weddle.
The Edward Jones Dome is owned by the St. Louis Regional Sports Authority and managed by the St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Commission.
License Collectorto host ‘Manufacturing Industry Briefing’
Michael McMillan, License Collector of the City of St. Louis, will host the second “Manufacturing Industry Briefing” on Tuesday, April 3 at City Hall in the Kennedy Hearing Room 208, joined by the U.S. Department of CommerceCommercial Services-International Trade to Though exporting will be the primary focus, over 20 exhibitors will be on site to assist manufacturers with information and services unique to their industry. Other presenters represent the U.S. Small Business Administration; St. Louis Development Corporation; St. Louis County Economic Council (Free Trade Zone); St. Louis Area on Training and Employment; the Missouri State Department of Economic Development; and Missouri Enterprise.
Courtney Simms
Lionel J. Phillips
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism & Entertainment Wykeham McNeill has the attention of potential investors and industry partners during the Invest in Tourism roundtable held during the Jamaica Investment Forum 2012 held recently at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Ontego Bay.The roundtable was co-hosted by Minister of Health Dr.Fenton Ferguson and chaired by Evelyn Smith,President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association
How do money market mutual funds work?
What Cash Management Tools Are Available?
There are a number of short-term cash management instruments available to the individual establishing a sound cash management program. These alternatives include money market mutual funds, Treasury bills, and certificates of deposit.
Money market mutual funds simply pool investors’ dollars and purchase large denomination money market instruments. Individuals invest in the mutual fund for as little as $500 and receive the advantageous short-term rates. These money market funds are totally liquid and may be accessed by check, debit card, telephone, or wire transfer.
Money market funds are neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although money market funds
STEWARD
Continued from B1 coal stoves that heated their home, among other chores. While the low-income family would have easily qualified for charitable assistance and school lunch programs, the pride and work ethic of David’s parents, Harold and Dorothy Steward, kept them from applying for benefits. Harold was young David’s example of an entrepreneur: he worked as a mechanic, ran a local janitorial service, hauled trash and coal with his old truck, and in addition had farm animals to manage. While the Stewards struggled economically, they shared whatever they had with those in need. Young David would carry this spirit of giving and his characteristic agility into the rest of his life. Steward was the first person
seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in money market funds.
Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest. Treasury bills are simply IOUs issued by the U.S. government to meet its short- term need for cash. They generally have maturities ranging from 90 days to one year. The minimum face value of Treasury bills is $10,000, which makes them one of the least costly items in the money market. However, they are sold
of color to attend his newlyintegrated elementary school in 1957. And despite the threats from the Ku Klux Klan, his parents faced down adversity and David was integrated into the public schools, where he eventually earned honors and was co-captain of his high school basketball team. After graduating high school in 1969, he went on to Central Missouri State University as a walk-on college basketball player. He later earned a scholarship and worked hard to excel in sports and the classroom, relying on his “stick-toit-no-matter-what / do-whatever-it-takes” attitude. In 1973, Steward graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, emphasis on Industrial Organization.
Hitchhiker to St.Louis
At the time of Steward’s college graduation, the United
By Charles Ross PERSONAL FINANCE
at a discount to face value with the full face amount being paid upon maturity. The difference between the discounted price you pay for the Treasury bill and the face value you receive at maturity is the interest, or yield. Treasury bills are generally regarded as one of the safest investments available because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. There is an active secondary market in Treasury bills, so if you need access to your money instantly, you should
Charles Ross
have little difficulty in selling them. As with any investment traded in a secondary market prior to maturity, there is the opportunity for capital loss or capital gain, depending on the direction of interest rates.
An added advantage of Treasury bills is that they are free from local and state taxes.
Another relatively safe investment instrument is the traditional certificate of deposit (CD) that you may purchase from your local bank.
Federally insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution in interest and principal, CDs offer you a fixed
States was in the midst of a recession and there were few jobs for new graduates. He approached a local banker, who lent him $300. With this in hand and all of his possessions in a knapsack, he hitchhiked to St. Louis, moved in with his sister and worked part-time as a substitute teacher until he landed a stable position as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America. He joined Wagner Electric in 1974, but was laid off a year later. In 1976, he got a marketing and sales position with the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company and was the first person of color hired by the company to sell rail services. Four years later, he joined Federal Express and served as senior account executive. There, he earned recognition as a top salesman and was inducted into the company’s sales hall of fame in 1981. Always striving for bigger and better, Steward decided to
interest rate for depositing your money for a specific period of time. If you withdraw your money before that period is up, you may be subject to interest rate penalties. CDs may also be purchased through most brokerage firms. The brokerage firm will shop the market and find the most attractive rate for you, even if it is out of state. This is something you might find difficult to do on your own. CDs purchased this way are called Brokered CDs.
CDs are most suitable for purchasing and holding to maturity. However, you may find it necessary to dispose of CDs prior to maturity. An important distinction between Brokered CDs and Bank CDs is the different means for early redemption. With a Bank CD, should you redeem your CD early, you will typically be assessed an early withdrawal penalty. Brokered CDs trade in
the secondary market which provides you with the opportunity to sell your CD at prevailing market prices, which may be worth more or less than the original amount you invested. Brokered CDs are more complex and carry more risks than CDs offered directly by banks. Brokered CDs may not be suitable for all investors. Before you purchase a Brokered CD, make sure you fully understand all of its terms and carefully read its disclosure materials provided by your financial professional.
acquire his own business in 1984.
So with no money, married and with two young children, in his typical fashion, he negotiated a no-money-down deal to acquire a business and leveraged the assets of the business to give the previous owner a down payment. He again contacted a local banker, Stockyard Bank of St. Joseph, Mo., who lent him $100,000 to continue the cash flow and grow the business, called Transportation Business Specialists, an overcharge audit firm. (In the mid-’80s, they began to use that model, and called it “leveraged buyouts.”) In the middle of all this, he took on a short-term loan (three weeks) of $2,000 from his father to cover legal expenses for that transaction. By 1987, Steward had carved a niche and, boosted by his initial success, went on to found a sister company, Transport Administrative Services, which audited and reviewed freight bills for undercharges for the railroad industry, leveraging his railroad experience.
That same year, the new company won a contract to audit three years’worth of freight bills for undercharges at Union Pacific Railroad, involving $15 billion of rate information for a single client. Steward’s company built a local area network to handle the data and completed the audit 40 times faster than traditional manual methods by using technology to revolutionize the way railroad audits were completed. He quickly recognized he was not in the business of auditing freight bills … he was in the business of using technology in a new, innovative way and wanted to be part of the technological revolution, changing the way people were doing business.
Enter:WWT
In 1990, Steward co-founded World Wide Technology Inc. with 4,000 square feet of office space, lots of perseverance and a burning desire to win in the competitive field of distributing IThardware, software and services.
Over the past two decades, Steward and his executive team have built what started as a small logistics/transportation audit company into a leading systems integrator and supply chain solutions provider, employing nearly 2,000 employees in offices throughout the world. Specializing in cloud capabilities, data center
At the 26th annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards held recently in Philadelphia,David L.Steward, Chairman of the Board of World Wide Technology Inc., became the first non-engineer to be awarded the Black Engineer of the Year Award.
and virtualization, security, mobility and networking technologies along with voice, video and collaboration solutions, World Wide Technology provides advanced technology solutions from over 3,000 manufacturers to the commercial, government and telecom sectors. The company’s annual revenue reached $4.1 billion in 2011. As Chairman, Steward plays a key role in WWT’s pursuit of major contracts and has helped build and nurture its culture and core values.
WWTwas recently named by FORTUNE magazine as one of the top 100 places to work in America.
Steward has also been an outstanding civic leader in the St. Louis, Mo., area, where he inspired other business and community leaders to set new records in fundraising when he served as Campaign Chairman of the United Way of Greater St. Louis in 2005 and Chairman of their Board of Directors from 2006 to 2008.
He also serves as President of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, President of the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and is a Curator for the University of Missouri System.
In addition, he serves on the boards of Centene Corporation, First Bank, Civic
Progress of St. Louis, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, Regional Business Council, Webster University, St. Louis Science Center, the United Way of Greater St. Louis Executive Committee, the HBCU HarrisStowe State University’s African American Business Leadership Council and Barnes Jewish Hospital. In 2010, WWTwon the St. Louis Minority Business Council Excellence Awards and was named the Minority Business Enterprise of the Year and an HPPartner in Excellence. They also won the AT&TSupplier Award. In 2011, WWTreceived several more industry awards ranging from National Minority Business Council’s Outstanding Technology Firm of the Year to VMware’s Government Partner of the Year Award for North America to the EMC Velocity Enterprise of the Year Award and the VAR500 Best Partnership Award. The company has also won numerous honors from its key strategic partners like Cisco, HP, NetApp, EMC and VMware. Reprinted with permission from U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine.
Homecoming for Ryan Mango
Former Whitfield High star finishes 5th at 125 pounds for Stanford
By Earl Austin Jr.
St.Louis American
The
Of
St. Louisan Ryan Mango made a triumphant return to his home town at last week’s NCAAWrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center.
The former Whitfield High star finished in fifth place at 125 pounds to earn All-American honors for the second consecutive year. Mango becomes the fifth wrestler in Stanford history to earn multiple All-American honors. He finished sixth at the NCAAChampionships in 2011. The fifth-place finish put the capper on what was a stellar junior campaign for Mango.
With the collegiate season over, Mango will now set his sights on trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Team.
He won 30 matches, which was best on the team. He also won the 125-pound title at the Pac-12 Conference Championships in February.
Mango entered last week’s NCAAs as the No. 8 seed in his weight class. He won five of his seven matches in St. Louis to earn his AllAmerican status. In the fifth-place match,
INSIDE SPORTS With
Mango came from behind to defeat Nick Bedelyon 6-4 in overtime.
Mango was a two-time state champion at Whitfield in 2008 and 2009. In those two years, Mango won 95 consecutive matches and was named the Class 1 Wrestler of the Year by the Missouri Wrestling Association.
With the collegiate season over, Mango will now set his sights on trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Team which will compete in London this summer. Ryan will be trying to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Spenser, a former star wrestler at CBC who competed in the Olympics for the USAin China in 2008.
Billiken in the Buckeye state
SLU takes first trip to NCAATournament in 12 years
I enjoyed a wonderful weekend of college basketball last weekend in Columbus, thanks to the Saint Louis University Billikens. The Billikens made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 12 years and got their first tourney win in 14 years with a 61-54 victory over Memphis last Friday. Just two days later, the
pushed No. 1 seed and Big Ten
B5
IN THE C
With Ishmael H.Sistrunk
Dwight Howard previously stated he would not re-sign in Orlando and requested a trade to the Nets,Lakers or Mavericks and refused to sign an extension with any other team.
Trade deadline soap opera
The NBAtrade deadline came and went with a blur. Trade rumors and star drama ran rampant as the NBA’s annual soap opera took center stage. Despite various blockbuster rumors, most of the movement didn’t involve the league’s elite players. However, the sheer volume of last-minute deals and the drama of those that never happened made for an exciting spectacle.
Dwight Howard plays fool
Kwamain Mitchell #3 of the St.Louis Billikens passes around Derrick Nix #25 of the Michigan State Spartans during second-half action of the third round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament at Nationwide Arena in Columbus,Ohio.After defeating Memphis on Friday,Saint Louis University lost to Michigan State ending their season.
Finally team officials tired of begging their star to stay gave him an ultimatum:Waive your opt-out rights or be dealt for the best offer.
The biggest story of the week was Dwight Howard’s game of “look at me now.” All eyes were on the Magic’s uber-talented big man and his on-again, off-again trade demands. Howard previously stated he would not re-sign in Orlando and requested a trade to the Nets, Lakers or Mavericks and refused to sign an extension with any other team. With the restrictive request and public knowledge of his discontent, it’s doubtful any team offered the Magic more than a pack of Mango Melon Now & Laters and the firstseason of Khloe and Lamar on DVD. Howard reportedly shot down a deal with the Bulls. When Magic brass pleaded with Howard to stay, he wanted out. Once they started fielding calls, he wanted to stay. Finally team officials tired of begging their star to stay gave him an ultimatum: Waive your opt-out rights or be dealt for the best offer. First he said he would, then said he wouldn’t and finally he did. In his apology over the media circus, Howard made the understatement of the year, “I have gotten some bad advice.”
Ishmael H. Sistrunk
Former Whitfield High star Ryan Mango returned home last week to finish fifth at the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which were held at the Scottrade Center.Mango earned All-American honors for the second consecutive year.
Billikens
Earl Austin Jr.
CLAIB’S CALL
With Mike Claiborne
Tebow, Manning and the future of the QB
With the imminent signing of Peyton Manning with the Denver Broncos, the message should not be that of John Elway not thinking he could win with the “Peoples Subject” Tim Tebow, but where is the league going with philosophy?
Tebow was a fad in Denver where some thought the Broncos won in spite of him while others only worried about the end result of just winning. The old school had the opinion that it was more fiction than fact and Elway made that point very clear in his pursuit of Peyton.
If there was ever a player that even the most staunch Tebow fans would have to stop and pay homage to it would have to be Peyton Manning. Multiple neck operations withstanding, he was the nightmare of every quarterback that had not been on a Super Bowl winning team over the last couple of weeks, knowing that your General Manager had his phone number. Throw in a clean bill of health and it’s, “Honey, hold off on the big ticket expense as we may have to go back to renting.” Even the once “untouchable” Tebow’s number was up. Like many oldschool football people, Elway was never on board with Tebow and his style of quarterbacking ... poor passing technique, inability to read defenses and the old tuck and run that is an invitation to going on injured reserve for the year. No one would say this publicly without the risk of being a hater of Tebow, God and all that is right with America, as the fanatics literally lost their minds over the Tebow avalanche. Elway leapt at the
chance to secure Manning, knowing that it would be hard for fans to oppose.
What now?
What happens now in the offensive philosophy of the NFL? It used to be run first, pass if you have to and run some more. Things have eased up as the passing game is here to stay and the league has made sure of that by making it a penalty to get too close to a quarterback and not to hit a receiver too hard downfield. All of a sudden that athletic black quarterback that they tried to convert to another position has evolved into Tim Tebow. Surely you cannot change his position, he is a quarterback. It worked in college, why not the NFL?
There are more Tim Tebows on the way as the college game has decided to chuck the conventional offenses that they supplied to the NFL for years and enter the hybrid.
There are more Tim Tebows on the way as the college game has decided to chuck the conventional offenses that they supplied to the NFLfor years and enter the hybrid. The spread offense that is run by a superior athlete is the talk of the town, and the old schoolers are not ready for it. The quarterback factory of college football will produce more Tim Tebows and Robert Griffin IIIs than Andrew Lucks. It has already started when you look at Drew Breese, his backup, former Mizzou QB Chase Daniel and others who never even get close to a center and choose to tuck and run more than ever. It’s great for college but to have a quarterback roll out and get crushed by a defender only to find himself on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season is devastating, and because of the salary cap few teams can afford to spend
with
similar money on a backup should the starter go down for the year.
The old line will dig on this one when it comes to what sort of quarterback will lead the way. The perfect pocket passer will always be the player of choice for any coach.
Used gear for sale?
For all you front runners,
CLUTCH
Continued from B3
Impactful deals
Lakers trade Luke Walton, Jason Kapono and this year’s first round pick to the Cavs for Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga. The Lakers also dealt Derek Fisher to Houston for Jordan Hill Analysis: Laker fans were divided on Fisher’s departure. Some recognized Fisher’s inability to defend speedy
you know the ones that run out and buy the Lakers license plate cover after they win another championship only to change cars once Lebron landed in Miami, what did you do with all that gear this year? What did you do with the first baseman who played for the Cardinals’jersey? How about the Tebow jersey you got for Christmas? Surely you can
guards or make shots at a decent percentage while others defended his leadership and clutch shot-making ability. Sessions is an upgrade, but not as much as the pro-trade Lakers fans would suggest. His energy and speed will be welcome in LAbut I’m not convinced he’s the final piece to the puzzle. Also the oftrumored deal for T-Wolves forward Michael Beasley never materialized. Neither did any of the gazillion Pau Gasol rumors.
Nuggets trade Nene to Wizards; Wizards trade JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf to Nuggets and Nick Young to the Clippers; and the Clippers trade Brian Cook to Nuggets and a 2015
still fit in that Peyton jersey from a few years ago. Make room for more Heat jerseys in home, road and third and fourth jerseys. Yep, nothing like being a front runner.
Shocking end for Mizzou
The NCAAtournament is over for both local entries Missouri and St. Louis
second-round pick (from Hornets) to Wizards.
Analysis:NuggetsGot rid of a talented, but oft-injured big man for a younger, durable and talented big man. Clippers came out like bandits by receiving a talented scorer for a 2015 second-round pick and a bench warmer. Can’t ask for a better deal.I don’t really understand the Wizards’ thinking in dealing for an older, higher-paid, injury prone player and giving away a quality guard for nothing to make the cap numbers work.
Warriors trade Monta Ellis, Epke Udoh and Kwame Brown to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson Analysis: Golden State gets
University. The wrong team got sent home earlier than everyone thought. Missouri was nationally ranked and considered a Final Four participant, but someone forgot to tell Norfolk State. Agreat season, but the item that will be most remembered will be how things ended ... shockingly.
the quality center it has long been searching for, but one with problems staying on the court. Bogut doesn’t fit the Warriors’uptempo style but maybe they are looking to change the tempo. Jackson was later dealt to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson which is a head-scratcher. Meanwhile Bucks get a stud shooting guard and a promising young forward. If nothing else the team’s backcourt duo of Ellis and Brandon Jennings will be fun to watch.
For a complete analysis of the NBAtrade deadline, please visit stlamerican.com. In the Clutch can also be followed on Twitter @intheclutchstl.
Mike Claiborne
Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow,left,has been pushed aside in favor of the veteran Payton Manning
whom the Broncos signed earlier this week.
The NCAAMidwest Regional rolls into the Lou this weekend with a bit of variety for all hoop fans.
Top-seeded North Carolina takes on surprising No. 13 seed Ohio University while No. 2 seed takes on No. 11 seed North Carolina State on Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome. The winners meet on Sunday for a berth in the Final Four. The regional is being hosted by Saint Louis University this year. If past years of this regional are any indication of the excitement that is about to begin this week, then I’m all in. I have a picture on the wall in my man cave that’s called “Magical Basketball Moments In St. Louis.” It was given to me by some very nice people some time ago. Upon looking at it, the montage reminded me of some of the most memorable moments in recent St. Louis basketball history. It features the run in 1996
INSIDE
Continued from B3
champion Michigan State to the limit before losing a close 65-61 decision. My 21st season of providing radio commentary for the Billikens was a most memorable one, thanks to a hardworking bunch of young men who put it on the line every night. SLU finished the season with 26 victories, which was the second most in the program’s history.
Senior forward Brian Conklin was a force in the paint all season while the return of point guard Kwamain Mitchell brought the Billikens from 12 victories last season to more than double the wins this year.
The atmosphere in Columbus last weekend was unforgettable. Billiken fans from all over the country convened in the Buckeye state and had a great time. It has been 12 long years since we’ve experienced the NCAA Tournament and SLU fans made the most of it.
In his fifth year, head coach Rick Majerus has the SLU program on very solid ground. Next season is just as promising with seven top players returning, including Mitchell and fellow guards Mike McCall Jr. and Jordair Jett plus front court stalwarts Dwayne Evans, Cody Ellis, Rob Loe and Cory Remekun.
Crusaders in Columbia
Congratulations to the Lutheran North Crusaders on their third-place finish in the Missouri Class 3 state tournament last weekend in Columbia. After a narrow loss to Hogan Prep in the semifinals, North defeated Mt. Vernon for third place. Junior guard Anthony Virdure closed out a stellar 2012 season by scoring 31 points against Mt. Vernon.
Champs at Crossroads
One program that made school history during the state playoffs was Crossroads High, which won its first ever district championship in boys basketball. The Current defeated host Bismark to win a Class 2 district championship. Crossroads was lead by head coach Steve Abdul-Hamid, who is a disciple of the late, great coaching legend Jodie Bailey. The Current are led by its excellent backcourt of sophomore Trevor Clay and junior Milton Spaulding.
Congrats,Coach Hunt
Congratulations to HarrisStowe State University Phillip Hunt on being voted the CoCoach of the Year in the American Midwest Conference. Hunt shared the
NCAArolls into the 314
when the Bradley Braves and Deon Jackson upset at that time SMS now Missouri State in the MVC Tourney Semi Finals.
1993: Roy Williams’ Kansas Jayhawks defeated Indiana for the Midwest regional championship.
1998: How could one forget one of the best regional finals ever when Jim Harrick’s Rhode Island team fought to the finish against Stanford. It was the first time I was introduced to the best college mascot out there, the Stanford Cardinal Xmas tree! I love it! And who could forget Stanford’s Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen jumping for joy after the final horn sounded, as the Cardinal punched a ticket to the Final Four that year.
1999: The sharpest dressed coach in college basketball my man, Tom Izzo brought the Flintstones through the Lou on there way to the Final Four. Michigan
State defeated Kentucky in the regional finals.
2001: The NCAAWomen’s Final Four came to town. It was when one of my favorite coaches Cheryl Burnett and the amazing Jackie Stiles and the Lady Bears of SMS was on every electronic and print media outlet in the state. And it was deserved.
But when the dust settled, it was the point guard from Cor Jesu in St. Louis named Niele Ivey that snatched away the National Championship and the spot light for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
After appearing in the American with Earl, and on my radio show as the ONLY media attention she got prior too winning the National Title. She knew Earl and I would have her back, and showed her gratitude afterward to all the National media afterwards.
Former Chaminade College Prep All-American Bradley Beal has averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds a game for the Florida Gators in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
award with Bob Burchard of Columbia College. Hunt led the Hornets to 17 victories, which was the third most in program history. Hunt was a former standout prep player at Clayton High School. He also played at Saint Louis University.
Beal for real Former Chaminade College
Prep All-American Bradley
Beal has been putting in work for the Florida Gators in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. In two games, Beal is averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds a game while shooting 55 percent from the field. Beal had 14 points and 11 rebounds in Florida’s 71-45 victory over Virginia, then followed up with 14 points and nine rebounds in a 84-50 victory over Norfolk State. Florida
2005: With Micheal Jordan watching from a sky box in the ED, his North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the University of Illinois in a thrilling national championship game. It should be a great week of hoops this week with these four teams seeking that Final Four berth. So good luck to St. Louis University this week, who’s hosting with the NCAAand let the hoops begin this weekend!
Scott’s Notes Congrats to Malcolm Hill of the Belleville East Lancers. The 6’5 guard who has a oral commitment with the fighting Illini was named to the Associate Press Class 4- A Illinois first team All - State Team
In class 3-A, a pair of East St. Louis Flyers recieved All
will face Marquette in the West Regional semifinals on Thursday in Phoenix.
Football U
Football U is a new program designed to help young football players at different positions. The program will begin on Saturday, March 31 at the Old Jamestown Sports Complex. The times are 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for Little League, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. for junior high and 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. for high school players. Players must bring their own football cleats. For more information, visit the website, www.stlfootballu.com.
State reconition. Deshawn Munson was named to the Class 3Asecond team. His teammate Brandon Johnson recieved honorable mention. But something is not right. How could Munson be named by Associated Press second team All State honors, and not be named to the AllSouthwestern Conference team? Maybe we need a re- count? If nothing else, I smell a rat, or rats. The St. Louis University
basketball team deserves all the credit in the world after a great season. But lm not drinking the Rick “Slick Rick” Majerus cool aide down to fast without taking a break..... Now at $1 million a year and the 1st NCAAappearance as long as he’s been here? I still think Brad “ Lost In Space” Soderberg would have been to 3-4 NCAAtournaments for half the money and loses during the same million dollar run by Slick Rick.
DeShawn Munson
East St.Louis – Boys Basketball
The 6’4” junior guard enjoyed a stellar season in leading the Flyers to a berth in the Illinois Class 3A Supersectionals. Munson had 27 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals in the Flyers’7975 loss to Springfield Lanphier in last week’s Supersectional game in Springfield. In leading the Flyers to the sectional championship, Munson had 23 points, four rebounds four assists and three steals in a victory over Chatham-Glenwood. He followed up with 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals in a victory over Centralia in the sectional championship game.
For the season, Munson averaged 19.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.4 steals in leading the Flyers to a 24-9 record.
Maurice Scott
JAMAICA
Continued from B1 investment destination” and to increase investor confidence “by demonstrating the Government of Jamaica’s commitment to facilitating investment projects which have significant impact.”
Prime Minister Miller made the matter very plain.
“We are providing a signal to the investment community that Jamaica is serious about being a business- friendly environment,” Miller said. “We are open for business.”
She listed Jamaica’s benefits to the investment community: its official language is English, its “improved telecommunications infrastructure and extensive road network,” modern airports and seaports, “a trainable workforce, a good industrial relations climate, and a government that is solidly pro-business.”
She acknowledged the challenges posed by the recession, which has “had an adverse impact on, among other things, markets for our products, the number of visitors to our shores and the amount they spend; the level of inflows of our biggest sources of net foreign exchange earnings –remittances and Foreign Direct Investment.”
Inward flows, according to
the World Investment Report, have declined for $1.4 billion U.S. in 2008 to just over $201 million in 2010, she said.
With an eye toward Jamaica’s role in the international credit community, she said, “We have begun reengaging with the International Monetary Fund with the objective of entering an agreement that will place emphasis on social stability, growth and development, based on credible and achievable macro-economic targets.”
Toward this end, she said she had directed Minister of Justice Mark Golding, who chairs the Legislation Committee of her cabinet, to overhaul the legislative process in order to improve Jamaica’s “competitiveness.”
“We believe that our country, at this stage, possesses all the ingredients to make your investment profitable,” she said.
“We welcome both investments where you wish to be on your own, as well as those in which you wish to collaborate with the State.”
With the obvious importance of tourism to Jamaica’s financial outlook, Minister of Tourism & Entertainment Wykeham McNeill co-hosted the Invest in Tourism Roundtable at the forum. He seconded the prime minister for the sectors he oversees.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment is closely in
tune with the Government of Jamaica’s determination to facilitate an ‘enabling environment’for investment,” McNeill said. He said that includes further infrastructural development; ensuring environmental protection; the diversification and deepening of the product offering; and “continued human resource development for service enhancement and improved security.”
McNeill showcased several new investment opportunities in health and wellness tourism.
He also provided an update on incentives and legislation programs that are being implemented to boost investment. He noted that the primary tourism areas identified as ripe for investment include health, community, nature and ecotourism, entertainment and gaming, cultural and sports tourism.
“And importantly, the government is highly focused on policy initiatives for Information and Technology which seek to provide better ways to attract both Foreign Direct as well as Local Investment and enhance the conditions under which such investments can maximize growth for the island,” McNeill said.
“To this end we are moving to create an environment that fosters investment by removing the bureaucratic hurdles that hamper investors.”
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller greets Abel Matutes,Chief Executive Officer of the Fiesta Hotel Group,one of nine Spanish hotel chains operating in Jamaica,during theJamaica Investment Forum 2012 held last week,March 1 - 2,at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Ontego Bay.Minister of Industry,Investment & Commerce Anthony Hylton (left) and JAMPRO’s President Sancia Bennett-Templer (background) were also on hand.
Year of African youth
7th Annual Wash U. ilm festival screens rising powers of the Diaspora
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American
Through each presentation of the annual African Film Festival, Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo uses the cinema to bring understanding and connection to the sons and daughters of the African Diaspora right here in St. Louis.
This weekend the festival returns to Washington University’s campus for a seventh year. The award-winning ilms highlight ancient fables, love, politics,
a young boy’s imagination, woman power and the voice of the next generation.
“Most of this year’s ilms have strong youth characters,” said ToliverDiallo, assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences, senior lecturer in African & African-American studies and festival organizer.
“It is in their relection about their society and about the understanding of
Hit STL reality show returns to OWN on March 31
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American
“It’s not hard for us to stay grounded because we get up and go to work every morning,” said Tim Norman, co-owner of Sweetie Pie’s and co-star of the hit reality TV show that follows the day-to-day operations of the popular soul food eatery. “I think that sets us apart from the rest of those shows.”
He has a point. A hard day’s work for most of the stars of the reality franchises consists of developing a faux fashion line or being manhandled by a glam squad.
But Norman and his mother, former Ikette turned restaurateur Robbie Montgomery, put the reality back in reality TV. This downhome show on The Oprah Winfrey Network has become a breakout hit, with the premiere of the second season of Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s set for March 31.
While the nature of their business doesn’t allow them to get caught up in fame, the show’s success still blows them away.
“I still cannot believe it,” Norman said. “I feel like I’m dreaming. The
Oprah Winfrey Network didn’t have to pick us – and in urban media right now you don’t see a lot of positive black television. I feel like the timing was right for us – it was a God thing.”
It’s a family affair, involving Norman, Montgomery, Norman’s iancée (and T.J.’s mother) Janae Wallick and Montgomery’s nephew Charles Chrenchaw.
“We are truly blessed, and we are excited and we hoped everybody liked it,” Montgomery said. “It seems like the world has been with us. We are thankful and excited to keep doing it.”
As she oversees a deep fryer illed with chicken wings, Miss Robbie’s face is “beat to death” on a daily basis. And her colorful chef jackets are the irst indicator of her spunk and sass.
“I’m messing up my lashes,” she said as she cried tears of joy in the second season’s premiere. Her irst grandchild was leaving the hospital for the irst time after being born three months premature.
T.J.’s early arrival was unexpected, and Tim and Janae moved in with Miss Robbie for extra support with the baby.
“He wants me to move with them,” Montgomery said. “I’m not dead, I’m just old.”
They also tackle the tedious construction process for their third restau-
Bayard Rustin writes
Special to The American City Lights Books has published a new edition of the letters
Long, who edited the 522-page volume of letters, answered some questions about Rustin and his meaning today. Q: For those unfamiliar with Bayard Rustin, can you briely tell us about him, and also address why there is, perhaps, a broader lack of knowledge about his life and accomplishments?
Michael G. Long: Bayard Rustin was arguably the most important igure in nonviolent protest politics in twentiethcentury America. Today he is best known for being the brilliant organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. But before he directed that pinnacle event in protest politics, he was one of the most important intellectual and tactical leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. He schooled Martin Luther King Jr.,
RUSTIN, C4
The Dr. Dorothy Height Call to Service Centennial Celebration with Presiding Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Award-winning Gospel Singers Vickie Winans and Smokie Norful, Urban Jazz Harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet, and WPAS choir Women of the Gospel was held on March 17, 2012 in Washington, DC at Shiloh Baptist Church. The event was a roaring success.
Sponsored by the Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation and the National Council of Negro Women, the event served as the kick-off of the weeklong call for service marking the centennial birthday of civil rights, women rights and social activist Dr. Dorothy Height, who died in 2010 at 98 years of age. The 2-hour kick-off service was a celebration of music and a call for everyone to participate in some form of service to others during the seven days leading up to and after March 24, the date Dr. Height was born in 1912.
Among the program participants were former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, President of the Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation and NCNW chair Dr. Barbara Shaw; Maureen Bunyon (Lead Co-Anchor at WJLA-TV) served as Mistress of Ceremonies. The celebration was free and open to the public. Everyone was asked to wear something purple, Dr. Height’s favorite color.
Happy Birthday to my niece Jina Haynes Esq.(Washington, DC) and Master George Roby(St. Louis) who both share a birthday (March 24) with
Mahamat-Selah Haroun’s “A Screaming Man” is among the diverse group of selections in Washington University’s 7th Annual African Film Festival screening March 23-25.
Dana G. Randolph Bayard Rustin (1912-1987)
SWEETIE, C4
Dr. Dorothy Irene Height
The cast of Sweetie Pie’s Photo courtesy of OWN
How to place a calendar listing
1.Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican.com OR 2.Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing
Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.
concerts
Mar. 23 – 24, St. Louis Symphony and Ameren present Music From Final Fantasy. 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 534-1700 or visit www.stlsymphony.org.
Sun., Mar. 25, 3 p.m., St. Louis Symphony presents Wicked Divas. Aconcert of Diva showstoppers starring Glinda and Elphaba from the BOadway production of Wicked. 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 534-1700 or visit www.stlsymphony.org.
Mar. 28-31, Jazz St. Louis and Wells Fargo Advisors present Nicholas Payton. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call314-289-4030 or visit www.jazzstl.org.
Mar. 29, 7:30 p.m., Foxy 95.5 birthday celebration featuring New Edition & SWV, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Sat., Mar. 31, 8:30 p.m., Shades of Jade Live Show. Saint Louis Native born Trumpet Player Joshua Williams returns from Kansas City’s Conservatory at UMKC bringing his new and upcoming Jazz/Neosoul Group: Shades of Jade. Robbie’s House of Jazz, 20 Allen Ave. #150, 63119.
Sat., Mar. 31, 6:30 p.m., Harris Stowe State University presents Spring Into Jazz. Main Auditorium, Henry Givens Jr. Administration Building, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 3405773.
Sun., May 13, 3 p.m., The Mildred Thimes Foundation forPancreatic Cancer presents The 16th Annual Denise Thimes & Friends Special
Mother’s Day Concert: Honoring OurMothers –“The Givers of Life.” Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 773-0337.
local gigs
Grown Folks 2 for1 Happy Hourwith Ms. Silky Sol, Saturdays from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., The Avenue, 1901 St. Louis Ave.
Sundays, 7 p.m., StarCity recording artist FRED WALKER performs his SAXYJAZZ music show every Sunday at: “JAZZ ON BROADWAY” 554 East Broadway, Alton, Il. 62002. Call 618-465-5299 for more information and directions.
special events
Thur., Mar. 22, 5:30 p.m., The Minority Professional Associations Collaborative hosts Nothing But Networking. Lumen, 2201 Locust St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 4956841.
Sat., Mar. 24, Centerfor Survivors of Torture and WarTrauma – an organization dedicated to facilitating the healing and self-empowerment of torture and war trauma will be hosting their 10th Anniversary Gala and Auction with special guest acclaimed author Alice Walker, the Saint Frances Xavier Grand Ballroom, located on the campus of Saint Louis University. To reserve tickets for the 10th Anniversary Gala or for more information about the Center for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma, please contact 314-541-4610 or visit the organization’s website at www.stlcenterforsurvivors.org.
CALENDAR
Sun., Mar. 25, 6 p.m.,
J.Marie Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Show. Come witness an exciting collection of Spring and Summer J.Marie Designs. The show will also be featuring jewelry designs by Vauje Vintage. Plush, 3204 Locust Ave., 63103.
Wed., Mar. 28 6:30 p.m., Hazelwood Kindergarten Information Night. McCurdy Elementary School, 975 Lindsey Ln., 63031. For more information, call 314-9534650.
Mar. 29 – Apr. 1, Moolah Shrine Circus. The Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles, MO. 63303. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com
Sat., March 31, 8:45am-1pm, Open Space Council, St. Louis County Parks, & the Gateway Off Road rebuild the trails of Cliff Cave Park! Volunteers must be 12 years old to participate & those 1215 must have an adult accompany them. All volunteers must sign a waiver & will be provided w/ training, tools, gloves, lunch, & water. Scouts will receive patches. Wear boots/closed-toed shoes, long pants, & dress in layers. To register, visit http://2012springowls.eventbrit e.com/
Sat., Mar. 31, 1 p.m., The 13 Black Katz, Shop ‘n Save, Majic 104.9 & Regal Sports will present a Ham
Giveaway, Shop ‘n Save Central City, 10805 Old Halls Ferry Road, St. Louis MO 63135. Email donations via PayPal to 13blackatz@gmail.com
Sat., Mar. 31, 6 p.m., Alton High School A-Town Steppers 5th Step Out Violence Step Show, Alton High School, Alton, IL. For more information, call (618) 474-2245.
Sat., Mar. 31, 8 p.m., Noble’s 29th Annual Oldie But Goodie Dance. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow, 63120. For more information, call (314) 615-2551.
Sun., Apr. 1, Fourth Annual Notice Me Awards. Event to recognize models, photographers, clothing designers, make up artists, hair stylists, and more from the St. Louis area. Plush, 3204 Locust Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 680-2775.
Through April 1, 2012 DREAMS Orgs. Inc. presents The Miss Monarch Butterfly Ball. The MMBB is a formal Pageant/Cotillion that recognizes young ladies ages 5-18 for their excellence at school, home, church and in the community. REGISTER NOWMONDAYS/THURSDAYS 6-8PM @ Hazelwood East Middle1865 Dunn Rd. 63138. For more information visit www.dreamsorg.com or call 314-323-3290.
Be the Difference:A Benefit for the Voices for Children with special guest Judge Glenda Hatchett.See SPECIAL EVENTS for more information.
Sat., Apr. 7, 8 p.m., 13 Black Katz presents “Love after War”, attendance prizes include a fur jacket ($2500.00), diamond earrings & necklace set ($1500.00) 2 tickets to Kevin Hart Concert, dinner & limo ride and event features Jo Lena Johnson author of Love and War: A Strategic Planning on Relationships, Ritz Carlton in Clayton. For more information, visit www.13Blackkatz.com
Thur., Apr. 12, Voices For Children presents Be the Difference: ABenefit forthe Voices forChildren, special guest Judge Glenda Hatchett Windows Off Washington, 701 N. 15th St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 5522454.
Sat., Apr. 14, 6 p.m., Saint Louis University School of Law Black Law Student’s Association presents Derby Stakes Casino Night. Food, Open Bar, Prizes, Derby and Casino Games. Tickets $45. SLU Allied Health Multipurpose Room, Doisy Hall, 3437 Caroline Mall, 63104.
Sun., Apr. 15, 6 p.m., S.L.I.M. presents the Loosecannon Celebrity Basketball Game. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Apr. 20 – 22, STL– ATL Hoops Getaway. Check out the Atlanta Hawks as they face the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Also shop, party and hit the clubs. For more information, call (314) 7797655 or (314) 229-5267.
Sat., Apr. 21, 11 a.m., 3rd Annual Drumline Showdown. Seven nationally
renowned HBCU marching percussion ensembles will battle it out for $10,000 for their school’s percussion program. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103.
Sat., Apr. 21, 6 p.m., 2nd Annual Trivia Night for Neighborhood Houses! St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, 63106 For more information, visit http://www.neighborhoodhouses.org.
Sat., Apr. 21, 6 p.m., The Alpha Zeta Chapterof Iota Phi Lambda Sorority is hosting the 2nd Annual Business Month Awards Dinner. Norwood Hills Country Club, One Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, visit www.iotastlouis.org.
Sat., Apr. 21, 7 p.m., MHT Election 2012: Third Annual Trivia Night. Most Holy Trinity Catholic School, 3519 N. 14th St., 63107. For more information, call (314) 2419165.
Fri., Apr. 27, 8 p.m., 2 Divas presents The Wild Wild West Dance. The Machinists Hall, Room 1C, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., 63044.
Berkeley Class of 1982 is celebrating its 30 year class reunion August 17-19, 2012 and is seeking classmates to attend the reunion and reunion planning meetings. For more information about the reunion please call Anthony Wilder 314-479-0110, Portland (Matthews) Whitlock 314-7669108, or Tammy Davis 314302-1339.
Through May 31, National Archives at St. Louis presents “Documented Rights.” Exhibition showcasing milestone documents drawn from National Archives holdings to illustrate this nation’s continuing process of defining human and civil rights. For more information, call (314) 8019313
literary
Wed., Mar. 28, 7 p.m., Book signing and discussion with John ElderRobison and his latest book BE DIFFERENT My Adventures with Asperger’s & My Advice for Fellow Aspergians, Misfits, Families, and Teachers,St. Luke’s Hospital, Emerson Auditorium, Lower Level N/S Medical Building 224 S. Woods Mill Rd. St. Louis, MO 63017.
Apr. 7, 7 p.m., The St. Louis County Library Foundation’s Reading Garden Event Series is pleased to present St. Louis’ most popularyoung adult authorRidley Pearson for a discussion and signing of the latest installment in his popular series “Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game, ” St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
art
Apr. 5 – October27, In the Still Epiphany, Approximately 50 works of art from Emily and Joseph Pulitzer Jr.’s Collection, Opening reception 5 p.m. April 5, The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts (in Grand Center)
3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
10th Street Gallery presents the opening reception for Lance Omar Thurman’s upcoming photography exhibit “Nostalgia,” 10th Street Gallery, 419 N. 10th Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Visit www.10thstreetgallery.com
THE GALLERYof the University City Public Library is seeking applicants forjuried one-month shows forthe 31st season. Ashort resume of artistic background, 12 images of recent work on a CD, and a list with dimensions and medium of each piece are required. Send or bring entries to: THE GALLERY, University City Public Library, 6701 Delmar Blvd., University City, MO 63130 by Monday, April 30. For further information, call Lexine Pranschke at 314.727.3150 or email lexine@ucpl.lib.mo.us.
comedy
Apr. 13, 8 p.m., Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com
Sat., May 12, 8 p.m., Royal Comedy Tour feat. Sommore, Bruce Bruce, Mark Curry and more. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
theatre
Sun., Mar. 25, 7:30 p.m., The Black Rep Sunday Concert Series Presents Genesis Arts Ministry performing My Worship is ForReal: Worship Him. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, For additional information, contact Tracy HolliwayWiggins @ 618.741.0898. visit www.metrotix.com.
Mar. 27 – Apr. 8, Bring It On: The Musical, Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Through Apr. 1, The Black Rep presents No Child. This “remarkable, delightfully entertaining” show features one actress playing 16 roles — the kids, teachers, parents, principals, janitors and security guards of New York City’s Public schools. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Sun., Apr. 1, 7:30 p.m., The Black Rep presents Le Freak Le Chic. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Through Apr. 8, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Comedy
of Errors. Mistaken identities, outlandish disguises and musical merriment take two sets of twins on a raucous journey through the streets of New Orleans in a one of Shakespeare’s cleverest comedies. 130 Edgar Rd., 63119. Fore more information, call (314) 968-4925 or visit www.repstl.org.
Mar. 27 – Apr. 8, Bring It On: The Musical. Set against the world of competitive cheerleading, this powerhouse new show hilariously proves that winning isn’t everything when it means losing something - or someone - you really care about. Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Apr. 11 – May 13, The Black Rep presents Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. In a 1927 recording studio, legendary blues singer, Ma Rainey, finally shows up to record her new album, despite battling musicians and tight-fisted producers. Hilarious and heartbreaking. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Through April 14, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Shake 38 Performer Registration. Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, 5715 Elizabeth Ave., 63110. For more information, call 314/531-9800, ext. 113.
lectures
Thur., Mar. 22, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis Community College invites you to FAFSAFrenzy. Get FREE help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Wildwood Campus, 2645 Generations Dr., Wildwood, MO. 63040. For more information, call (636) 422-2000.
Fri., Mar. 23 – Sat., Mar. 24, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metropolitan St. Louis Chapterwill host its annual “AWoman’s Worth: My Sister’s Keeper Financial Literacy Series” featuring some of the top financial and community leaders in St. Louis, JC Penny Conference Center at UMSL. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Registration is required. Anyone interested in attending can register online at http://ww2012ncbwstl.eventbri te.com or by calling 314-3677778 ext. 270.
Sat., Mar. 24, 9 a.m., St. Louis Community College presents Parent Child Academy. This unique opportunity allows you to have fun with your child while experiencing learning activities that promote healthy eating. These lively sessions teach you interactive ways to enhance your family story and dinner times. St. Louis Community CollegeFlorissant Valley, 3400 Pershall Rd., 63135. For more information, call (314) 5134494.
Sun., Mar. 25, 3 p.m. CHAARM and Wedded Bliss Foundation, Inc., will present the Ninth Annual Black Marriage Day celebration featuring Dr. Dwayne
Buckingham of R.E.A.L. Horizons Consulting Service, LLC. St. Peter AME Church, 4730 Margaretta Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63115.
Thur., Mar. 29, 4:30 p.m., Fontbonne University Graduate Program Information Session. 6800 Wydown Blvd., 63105. For more information, call (314) 889-1400 or visit www.fontbonne.edu/gradopen.
Sat., Mar. 31, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m., St. Louis American presents “Money Wise” Workshops. Afroworld, 7276 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 389-5194.
Sat., Mar. 31, 10 a.m., Universal African Peoples Organization presents “Women Of Movement-They Make Things Happen” Community Forum, Legacy Bookstore and Café 5249 Delmar St. Louis. MO. For more information, call (314) 454-9005.
Apr. 3, Michael McMillan, License Collectorof the City of St. Louis, is joined by the U.S. Department of Commerce-Commercial Services-International Trade to host the second “Manufacturing Industry Briefing on Tuesday, April 3rd at City Hall in the Kennedy Hearing Room 208. Though exporting will be the primary focus, over 20 exhibitors will be on site to assist manufacturers with information and services unique to their industry.
Tue., Apr. 3, 7 p.m., Common: It’ll All Make Sense One Day. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121.
Saturdays, Apr. 14—Jun. 2, 10 a.m. New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church Chancel Choir presents Stepping in the Name of Jesus—5th Annual Gospel Step Class. New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist ChurchHunter’s Hall, 4638 West Florissant Avenue, 63115. For more information, call (314) 389-4544.
Sat., Apr. 21, 9 a.m., AARP presents On the Road to Retirement. Tower Grove
ent Undy 5000. Not your typical 5K, run/walk to fight colon cancer and be sure to wear crazy boxers or your favorite shorts to raise awareness. Upper Muny Parking Lot in Forest Park. For more information, visit www.undy5000.org.
Through Mar. 31, 1 p.m., Hip Hop Cardio Class, Saturdays, Cardio fitness class that is guaranteed to help you burn at least 300 calories every class. InPower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave., 63109. For more information, visit www.inpowerinstitute.com.
Apr. 7, Coleman Wright Health Ministry sponsors: SeniorDay orNot So Senior Day, presentations include 10 signs of Alzheimer’s, Congestive Heart Failure, Healthy Eating and Seated Exercises, Coleman Wright CME Church, 9777 Halls Ferry Road, Jennings, MO 63136.
Manor, 2710 S. Grand Blvd., 63118. For more information, call (877) 877-1995 ext. 1018.
health
Thur., Mar. 22, 5:30 p.m., Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University present Straight Talk About Men’s Health: Erectile Dysfunction and Male Incontinence. Farrell Conference Center, Center for Advanced Medicine, 4921 Parkview Pl., 63110. For more information call (866) 2339368.
Fri., Mar. 23, The 9 Energizing Breaths. Want more energy or mental clarity? Come learn the 9 Energizing Breaths from the book, The Power of Prana: “Breathe Your Way To Health and Vitality.” InPower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave., 63109. For more information, visit www.inpowerinstitute.com.
Sat., Mar. 31, 7:30 a.m., Siteman CancerCenterand Colon CancerAlliance pres-
Thur., Apr. 12, 7 p.m., Heart & Vascular: Caring forYour Arteries and Veins. Holiday Inn South County Center, 6921 S. Lindbergh, 63125. For more information, call (314) 8673627 or visit www.barnesjewish.org.
Through April 14, 7 p.m., Couples Massage, Saturdays, InPower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave., 63109. For more information, visit www.inpowerinstitute.com.
Wed., Apr. 11, 4 p.m., The Future of Healthcare feat. Louis W. Sullivan, MD, Former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Washington University School of Medicine, 320 S. Euclid Ave., 63110.
Sat., Apr. 14, 10 a.m., St. Louis Diabetes Coalition presents Touring the Grocery Store as Person with Diabetes. Richmond Heights Schnucks, 6600 Clayton Rd., 63117.
Sat., Apr. 21, 11 a.m., Health and Dental Care forKids
Open House. Open House to educate our community about the health services available at our facility. Other community partners will also be on hand to talk about their agencies and programs. 4055 Lindell Blvd., 63108
Saturdays, Apr. 14—Jun. 2, 10 a.m. New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church Chancel Choir presents Stepping in the Name of Jesus—5th Annual Gospel Step Class. New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church - Hunter’s Hall, 4638 West Florissant Avenue, 63115.
wupa.wustl.edu/africanfilm
Mar.
Continued from C1
my beloved Great Aunt Dorothy. Mom Linda Roby says George is planning to go on the golf trip described below next year!
A few savvy St. Louisans enjoyed an annual golf outing in Phoenix, AZ last month. Old friends and golf buddy’s here in St. Louis played golf by day and discussed various community projects over dinner. The Meridian Condos and Resort in Scottsdale, AZ was command central for this group co-chaired by Rev. Donald Hunter (New Sunny Mount Baptist Church) and Wayne Harvey, Esq. (Harvey and Associates). Attendees included; Jim Buford (Urban League St. Louis), Saul King (Boeing), Ron Roby (AT&T), Victor Julien (retired AB), George Robnett (Co-Founder Minority Contractor Initiative), and Joe Martin (consultant). The group really enjoyed the group breakfasts and early tee times while goling at Raven, Hillcrest and Desert
RUSTIN
Continued from C1
in nonviolence as a lifestyle and tactic, and advised him on numerous campaigns. Rustin was an openly gay man with early roots in the Communist Party. These two factors gave rise to fears in civil rights leaders concerned about maintaining the credibility of the movement. With these fears in tow, they often sought to keep Rustin in the background of their activities. They wanted to use Rustin’s vision and strategic thinking, but they were frightened that his gay sexuality, especially, would taint them in the eyes of the wider public.
Q: How did you become aware of Rustin’s role in the Civil Rights Movement yourself, and what inspired you to begin the research involved in editing a collection of his correspondence? Were there any surprises along the way?
Michael G. Long: I irst became aware of Bayard many years ago when I read David Garrow’s brilliant book on Martin Luther King Jr. and
Sands courses. On February 11, 2012 many St. Louis fashionistas attended the YWCA’s 42nd annual Alberta E. Gantt Valentine Fashion Show and Luncheon. Event Chair Denise Casey and her top notch committee raised more than $20,000 to beneit the Transitional Housing Program (THP) for homeless women. Casey, a business development advisor for Scottrade Advisor Services chaired the event last year. The affair was held at the Crowne Plaza Clayton Hotel. Annually, the luncheon is planned by the Committee on Administration (COA).
The COA was organized in 1911 to support the Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the YWCA that served AfricanAmerican women and girls in St. Louis. Since its inception, the organization has continually supported the YWCA for 101 years.
Marion Miller and two of her daughters (Audrey Miller MD. and Jane Miller Brown, ESQ.) spent Marion’s March lst birthday at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Audrey’s two dogs (Otis and Emily) enjoyed frolicking on the beach along the water’s edge and chasing
the Civil Rights Movement. When I irst read his prison letters, which detail his inner struggles with his gay sexuality, and when I irst learned that King was frightened of being too closely associated with Rustin’s sexuality, I was completely hooked on his life. Here was a man whose principled commitments sometimes ran far deeper than even King’s.I ind this book especially important because it allows us to hear Bayard Rustin in his own voice. It gives us the opportunity to hear Rustin speak for himself. There is incredible evocative power in hearing Rustin speaking more than two decades after his death. Because this book offers Rustin in his own voice, readers can actu-
n Rustin believed that there comes a time when activists need to get off the street and move into the corridors of power.
the birds in their paths. Brian Owens was in St. Louis where he performed live at The Old Rock House on March 6. 2012. Attendees enjoyed a VIP reception for the listening preview of his soon to be released CD “Moods & Messages” available June 2012. The much anticipated CD will feature Owens breaking from his traditional and contemporary jazz styles to old school soul. He is often compared to Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and other top artists. Please look look forward to a pre-taped interview with the The Nine Network’s Ruth Ezell on Living St. Louis to air in April. A native of Belleville Illinois may be best known as the singer with the former U.S. Air Force band: Sidewinder. He sang “God Bless America”, at one of The St. Louis Cardinals World Series games, has made appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America”, BET’s “Jazz Discovery”, “Entertainment Tonight” TV Show and the Emmy Award winning,” The Wayne Brady Show”. Dana Grace
SWEETIE
Continued from C1
rant, Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust, that is being built in Grand Center. New family, friends and employees enter the picture as they work towards Montgomery’s goal of operating out of a venue she owns.
ally feel Bayard’s principled passion come to life.
Q: Do you have a sense of how Rustin might have perceived Obama’s presidency?
Michael G. Long: Rustin long hoped that civil rights activists would be able to move “from protest to politics.” While he recognized the value of street demonstrations, he also believed that there comes a time when activists need to get off the street and move into the corridors of power, where hard decisions about the resources required for peace and justice are made. Rustin applauded many African-American politicians who sought political ofice; he saw these efforts as a move to become effective in political society – a requisite for moving toward peace and justice. I hasten to add, though, that he did not support Jesse Jackson in his bid for the presidency, primarily because he believed that Jackson lacked any appeal to voters beyond the AfricanAmerican community. Rustin was committed to coalition politics in the way that the current president seems to be.
“It’s hard, and working with family makes it harder,” Norman said. “You can’t leave work at work sometimes. I have some strong women to deal with, and they gang on me really quickly.”
The delightful banter that keeps people glued to the
FILMS
Continued from C1
their own power to make decisions that impact the future that we gain insights into challenges facing our world.” Consider Ethiopian director Zelalem Woldemariam’s short ilm “Lezare.” Cinematically breathtaking, the ilm takes advantage of every second of its 14 minutes to tell a fable that focuses on the plight of a hungry, homeless boy in a small village that ignores his needs.
This year’s festival goes a step further to engage young people with the incorporation of a Youth Matinee on Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m. The segment of the festival uses animation and storytelling and a post-ilm discussion with
screen managed to make its way into the interview
“Until I’ve found my own way, the restaurant is my life,” Chrenchaw said.
“’Cause that’s the only place he can come and do nothing,” Montgomery ired back.
The family believes that the popularity of Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s is rooted in the common bond they offer with the audience and the way they resolve conlict.
“We are a family business, and a family struggling with our ups and downs, and everyone is in tune with that,” Norman said.
“We try to be respectful. That’s the difference between us and the other popular reality shows,” Wallick said.
animated ilmmaker Sawadogo, whose feature “L’Arbre aux Esprits” or “Tree of Spirits” will kick off the matinee.
“The festival provides a wonderful corrective to media images and conventional wisdom about the continent and its people,” said Garrett Albert Duncan, director and associate professor of the Program in African & African American Studies. “The selections excite the imagination and offer different ways to see how people live, love and experience beauty in the world.”
Love, life and struggle for the women of Africa make their way to the screen through “Une Femme Pas Comme Des Autres” or “An Uncommon Woman,” where ilmmaker Adboulaye Dao offers an unconventional approach to resolving love issues between a woman and her philandering husband.
The lightheartedness of
“We argue, but it’s the way the handle it and the way that we work through it,” Norman piggybacked.
They are excited that fans have tuned in, and they are eager to point out where it where it all began.
“We’re not putting St. Louis on the map, St. Louis put us on the map,” Montgomery said.
“We wouldn’t have had the success – on the show or with the business – if the entire city hadn’t been behind us.”
“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” second season premieres Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. CST on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network. Check local listings for channels. Visit http://www. oprah.com/own.
“An Uncommon Woman” is a complete contrast to “Voyage A’ Alger” or “A Trip to Algiers,” Abdelkrim Bahloul’s ilm that focuses on a young mother who lost everything during the war for independence in Algeria.
Gaylyn Studlar, Washington University’s David May Distinguished Professor in the Humanities, said, “Year after year, the ilms screened in this festival eloquently demonstrate how moving image media can give us important perspectives on Africa and on the shared concerns of humanity in the 21st century.”
The 7th Annual Washington University African Film Festival will take place March 23–25 in Brown Hall Room 100 on the Campus of Washington University. For more information and a full schedule of selections/activities visit wupa. wustl.edu/africanilm or call (314) 935-7879.
Tim Norman and his mother, former Ikette turned restaurateur Robbie Montgomery, put the reality back in reality TV.
Photo courtesy of OWN
Twins turn 9
~ CELEBRATIONS ~
Brian “BJ” Temple
Jordan Temple — March 21
Brian “BJ” Temple — March 24
Reunions
our e-mail address is beaumontclassof67@sbcglobal.net.
Beaumont of class of 1967 will have its 45th class reunion on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Sheraton Westport Hotel. Cost is $100 per person. On Friday, June 8th, there will be a meet and greet and on Sunday, June 10 worship service and a brunch, locations to be determined. For questions/info on these events
Beaumont High School Class of 1977 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 35th year reunion. We are calling upon all classmates to come celebrate this occasion. Your contact information is needed as soon as possible. Please contact Doris J. HarrisBarge (djbarge1@gmail.com) 314-868-7182 or Lawrence Fingers (lawrencefingers@sbcglobal.net) or you can contact us on Facebook as the Beaumont Class of 77 Alumni.
Berkeley Class of 1982 is celebrating its 30 year class reunion August 17-19, 2012 and is seeking classmates to attend the reunion and reunion planning meetings. For more
information about the reunion please call Anthony Wilder 314-479-0110, Portland (Matthews) Whitlock 314-7669108, or Tammy Davis 314302-1339.
FormerForest Park Community College Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players coached by Bob Nelson, will host the Bob “ Mad Dog” Nelson Men’s Basketball Player’s Reunion on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 1-4 pm. For more information contact Glenn Marshall 314-422-4090, Randy Reed 314-355-3670, Mark Beeks 314-406-2239 or Brian “Mo” Moore 314-591-0230.
Hadley Tech Classes of 19621963 are preparing for our 50th reunion in October of
90 years young
90th birthday on March 26, 2012. She is the third of 15 children and a mother of seven. We love you very much!
2012. If you are interested in participating, your contact information is needed as soon as possible. Please call Virdell Stennis at 314-773-8177, Hellon Jefferson at 314-3073681 (jeffersonhellon@yahoo.com), or Wilhelmina Baker at 314588-0779/314-630-9647.
McCluerNorth Class of 1992 is looking to celebrate its 20year reunion. We are in the process of planning a dinner/dance. Your contact information is needed ASAP. Go to the web-site at mccluernorth1992.com
O’Fallon Technical High School Class of 1963 is planning its 50th reunion for the fall of 2013.If you are interested in participating, your contact information is needed as soon as possible.Please contactJustine Crow at (314) 838-2010 or jcrowsnest@aol.com.
Soldan class of 1964 planning committee is looking for members of our January & June class.We are planning our 48th reunion the weekend of August 10,2012. If you know someone from our class please ask them to contact us with their contact info ASAP. Please callJohn Bennett at (314) 503-3541, email lamplitr45@aol.com or DeOnne Hudson 1-763-374-3287 or e-mail deonne1024@comcast.net.
SumnerHigh School classes of 1946-1951 will be celebrating their “ninth,” four-year reunion August 24-26, 2012, at the Airport Marriott Hotel. We’re still in the process of rounding up all of our graduates and would like very much for you to contact us, ASAPif you would like to be included in this event. Call Barbara Campbell Hunt for additional information at 636-561-6796.
SumnerHigh Schoolclasses of 1962 are planning its 50-
40 and fabulous
Happy Birthday to my mom, Tamara Brewster, who turned 40 on March 20. She’s the most important, loving, and caring woman I know! Have a wonderful birthday, plus many more! With lots of love, from your kids!
year reunionfor August 17th19th, 2012 and are looking for the January and Juneclasses to participate in the planning. Please call Eldridge ”Bogie” Bryant, Sr. at 314-489-0532, email: eldridgbrya@sbcglobal .net and Lillian Foster Curlett at 314-269-6450.
SumnerHigh School Class of 1963 would like to reach all classmates to begin planning its 50th reunion for June 2013. Contact Jacqueline R. Vanderford, 314-265-9541, jvanderford63@att.net; John Abram, 314-994-0119 or Terri Cobb, 314-868-0233.
SumnerClass of 1972 seeking is alumni to plan its 40 year reunion. Contact: Earlene Brown at 314-534-0467/314731-1276, Jazelle Brown at 314-954-1470 or Kathi Washington Scott at 314-4454715.
Vashon High School Class of 1965 will be celebrating “The Class of 65 at 65” at The Hilton St. Louis Airport, April 21, 2012, 7 pm— Midnight. The cost is $50 per person. For information, contact Cleo at 383-1934, Bernice at 5348282, or Yvonne at 618-2068101. Also email Vashon65Alumni@yahoo.com.
Vashon High School Class of 1972: Plans are underway for our 40th class reunion. Please forward information on the names, addresses and phone numbers of classmates and info regarding classmates who are deceased. Meetings are being held every 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the new Vashon High School; located at 3035 Cass Ave. We look forward to hearing from you. Eufabya Edwards–McFadden, P.O. Box 454, Florissant, Missouri 63032-0454, email: vashonclassof72@yahoo.com
Vashon High School Class of 1977 is planning its 35th reunion for August 10-12,
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: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 4242 Lindell Ave St. Louis, MO 63108 FREE OF CHARGE
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
2012 and looking for all classmates to participate with the planning.For more information email your contact information to Vashonclassof77@yahoo.com.
Yeatman School alumni and former staff, as part of the school’s 45th anniversary observance, you are cordially invited to attend a ribbon-cutting and celebration for the newly renovated library! Saturday, March 10, 2012, 12 noon-1:30pm at YeatmanLiddell Middle School (4265 Athlone).You can also take a tour of the building and “walk down memory lane!” To RSVP and for more info Please call the Yeatman Alumni Hotline at 314-331-6190.
Happy 9th Birthday to our identical twin boys, Jayson & Jalen Reid. They are the children of Clyde Jr. and Lisa Reid; grandchildren of Andy and Elizabeth Cummings, Clyde Sr. and Charlotte Reid; and the little brothers of Michael, Jeffrey and Jamal Reid. We love you boys, and we thank God every day for you! Love, Mom & Dad
Geraldine L. Hodge will celebrate her
Jordan Temple
Jayson Reid Jalen Reid
Clergy Coalition installs new oficers
Kansas City Clergy target payday lenders
Seventy-ive faith and community leaders in Kansas City, representing a diverse crosssection of religious, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, rallied last Monday night in front of hundreds of people to drum up support for the statewide ballot initiative to cap predatory triple-digit interest rates on payday loans and raise poverty-level minimum wages for Missouri families.
Last Tuesday was a Day of Action, in which faith leaders attended pre-arranged meetings with clergy colleagues and, with members of their congregation, canvassed for petition signatures at key locations around Kansas City.
Attendees included Rev. Dr. DeForest Soaries, acclaimed author, advocate, and former New Jersey Secretary of State, and Rev. Steven Copley, head of the Arkansas Interfaith Alliance and veteran of Arkansas’s victorious ight to cap the rate on payday loans at 17 percent. Commitments were made by 100 area congregations to gather 10,000 signatures for the ballot initiative.
‘One Night
Alone with Jesus’
The Creative Arts Department of Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center presents One Night Alone with Jesus –
The St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition recently held an Installation of New Oficers Services at Wayman A.M.E. Church, 5010 Cabanne Ave. The new leader of AME Church is Presiding Elder C. Jessel Strong , who is also the newly appointed president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition. The theme of the service was “Daring to Dream.” The speaker was the Rev. Frederick McCullough, Pastor of Wayman A.M.E. Church and newly appointed co-chair of the Economic Division of the Clergy Coalition.
An Intimate Encounter. Come out and celebrate in an evening of praise, adoration and worship as a gifted troop of spirit-illed believers create a collage of inspiration that will enlighten your mind and lift your Spirit. This free event is open to all. This event will be presented on Friday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center. Parking is free.
Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center is a non-denominational Christian church located at 1350 South Lafayette Street in Florissant (across from Yacovelli’s). For more information, call 314-9216825, e-mail
info@mtclifecenter.org, or visit www.mtclifecenter.org/.
‘Restoring Hope’march
The irst national Resurrection Saturday March “Restoring Hope” will be held Saturday, April 7 from Vandeventer/West MLK/Kienlen from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Rsvp at 314-397-9307. All churches, civic leaders and citizens are invited to the march for the restoration of hope in saving our families and neighborhoods. This march will provide information to save families and our children.
Organizer say, “We will be arranging to march down all Martin Luther King streets in the United States and summon all mayors to open the streets to permitted vendors ($5 vendor permits) to utilize vendor booths on the streets to promote legal businesses to citizens wishing to open a business booth and earn income during the hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m.” Organizers called on “all churches to step outside their walls and minister to the needs of their communities. We need open dialogue and communication to stop the violence and killings in our communities and save our children and neighborhoods.
During this blessed time of the year when Christians all over the world commemorate the life, death and resurrection of our conquering Canaan King Jesus Christ, I want to travel back 2000 years and take a look at that fateful night right before Jesus’ arrest. We have heard the story about the servant of the high priest whose ear Peter cut off. My friends, The Holy Spirit has given us a bit of illumination to this. Research and study tell us that Malchus was the name of the servant to the High Priest. Malchus was wellknown among the land and would be sent out on missions for the High Priest. He was what you call the “ears” of the High Priest. Whenever anything went down in the city, Malchus was right there to report the happenings to the High Priest. There was a stir and a buzz about this water walking, devil chasing, dead raising, young Jewish man named Jesus. The city was talking about him. The Jews were nervous about him. The elders and rulers were infuriated with him. The High Priest had to do something about this rabble rouser. The High Priest takes the occasion to send Malchus to a traitor disciple named Judas, to set Jesus up (this is later why Judas kissed Jesus, so Malchus would know whom to capture).
Let’s now fast forward to Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas now slides up to Jesus and kisses him. Isn’t it amazing how God can take the kiss of a covert enemy and release you into a supernatural destiny moment! The disciple Peter now springs into action, wielding his sword and cuts Malchus’ ear off. Now don’t forget, Malchus was the ears of the High Priest. Luke 22:50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. Luke 22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Why did the Bible care to give us the description of which ear was cut off? Would it matter? You better believe it! Right is always the sign of power and authority. We could easily say then, that Peter cut off Malchus’s authority and power. But check this out! Jesus reaches down and picks Malchus’s ear up and puts the ear back on. Why? Because Malchus
Stephen McCrary
ST. LOUIS A
Special to The American Jaylen Bledsoe, an eighth grade student at Hazelwood West Middle School, is a 13year-old chief executive officer of a start-up information technology company (IT)Bledsoe Technologies.
“About a year ago, I started a web design company,” he said. “Besides web design and IT, we do web development, photography, videography, computer repair, search engine optimization, voice recordings and consulting. Three years ago, when I was in GALACTIC, I took a video editing course and it really interested me.”
He said he learned the basic drag-and-drop type, or What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) “but I wanted to learn how to do more.”
“Even as early as third grade, it was clear that Jaylen was uniquely focused on where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do,” recalled Mara Berry, director of GALACTIC, the district’s gifted education program.“I think the science, technology,
Eighth graderis CEO of startup ITbusiness
engineering and math (STEM) focus in our elementary gifted curriculum really paid off with him.”
Afew years ago, while on vacation in Florida, Bledsoe said he purchased $200 worth of textbooks on hypertext mark-up language (HTML) and hypertext preprocessor (PHP) code to help him expand his knowledge.
“I was in charge of marketing and website design for my cousin, Linzie Gray, who is a pop and rhythm-and-blues singer,” he said.
As he prepares to enter high school, he wants to find other students with similar interests. He hopes to train and eventually bring them into his company, www.bledsoetechnologies.com , as a team. Working from his parents’home, he currently has four employees – two local and two in India. Bledsoe also has an attorney.
“Jaylen is ‘The President’at West Middle,” said Allison Klouse, principal. “He does all of our technology for the student talent show, our plays, etc.He mentors underclass-
men and is an all-around amazing young man.”
Bledsoe has a 4.0 GPAand is involved in a variety of extracurricular activities in and out of school. He has served as the vice president of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
for the last two years, served as Student Council president for three years, is part of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and is the director of technology for the school’s audio-visual programs. He is involved in Leaders for Social Justice and he teaches a computer class at the school on
Jaylen Bledsoe,13, an eighth grade student at Hazelwood West Middle School, owns a start-up information technology company,Bledsoe Technologies. Working from his parents’home,he currently has four employees – two local and two in India.Bledsoe also has an attorney.
Thursday evenings.
“I am a part of the Wyman Teen Leadership Program. It is a five-year program I attend for 30 days over the summer,” he said. “After the fifth year, the program has counselors who will continue to help us out in college.I applied for this program during the beginning of my seventh grade year and I found out I was accepted at the end of that year.There was an extensive application process and only a certain amount of people who applied were accepted. I’m also the president of the St. Louis chapter of the National Youth Rights Association (NYRA) and I’m running for the board of directors over the summer.”
After graduating from high school, Bledsoe has his sights set on Harvard University. He aspires to major in business administration and computer science. Then he intends to continue at Harvard to obtain his master’s degree in law, with the hope of becoming a copy-
right attorney.
“He earns high marks in all of his classes and participates in the Students’Activities in Investigative Learning (SAIL) Program,” said Bonnie Waldrop, his communication skills teacher.
“What is most impressive about Jaylen is the growthhe has demonstrated in his service to others.Whether teachers need help networking laptops to a new printer or students need help taking their incorporation of technology in their communication arts projects to the next level, we can all count on Jaylen toenthusiastically share his tech expertise with our school community.
“I realize every kid doesn’t have an opportunity to start his or her own business at age 13,” said Bledsoe. “I did it on a very small budget. I took it from an idea to an action. It’s an adult world out there. We can all do the same things; you have to have the right amount of dedication.”
Bledsoe has a new post to add to his already impressive résumé – Chief Technology Officer of St. Louis Volunteen.com, which launched nationally on Mar. 7.
“Jaylenis currently working to organize a recognition program for teenagers across St. Louis for outstanding volunteerism,” said Becky Cook, his science teacher. Since he cannot drive yet, Bledsoe relies on his father for transportation.
“My dad is very supportive,” he said. “He takes me to a lot of my meetings.”
“I don’t see many eighth graders do the things that he does but it’s all his doing,” said his father Curtis Bledsoe. “I’m very proud of him.” Bledsoe said his godparents are entrepreneurs who own many rental properties and acted as big influences on him. He witnessed their hard work and dedication over the years and they served as his initial investors in Bledsoe Technologies.
Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week
“Dirty
L.A. loves L.A.H.A. I need to take a moment to do something I should do more often – as a matter of fact I think I’m going to try to make it my business to incorporate a “round of applause” moment in Partyline on the regular. The kick off applause goes to the STL’s own Lillian Jones and her L.A.H.A. Clothing for blowing the socks off the fashionista movers and shakers of L.A. Fashion Week...that’s right…LOS ANGELES . The thing that I love most about her doing so is that she exposed young people to the possibilities by bringing her child models along for the journey. She’s in the fashion business as much to give the young people around the city a chance to feel beautiful and build their self-esteem as she does to express herself creatively. Good job Lillian and your lovely L.A.H.A. princesses (and princes).
(Nearly) New Edition is on their way! 98% of y’all already know -and have your “Every Little Step” parachute pants at the cleaners right now in preparation- but for those few who stay out of the know, Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, and Ralph and Johnny will be tearing up the stage at the Scottrade ONE.WEEK.FROM.TODAY along with SWV. I can feel in my spirit that it’s going to be to the us what the NKOTB show was for the general population a few months back. “Mr. Telephone Man.,” sorry, y’all caught me in a moment. And here’s the deal, Partyline has FREE TICKETS to give away! And these are GOOD TICKETS Y’ALL!! The ONLY way to win is by “liking” the St. Louis American on Facebook. Green stuffed Olive. Since I’ve already used stuffed in the subheading, I’ll say that The Twisted Olive should have temporarily changed its name to The Squeezed Olive after Kyjuan and ‘nem got through packing the place so tough for his annual all green birthday jam (or whatever it was called). The Family Dollar parking lot was lookin’ like there was a black Friday crowd inside after guests hijacked the spot because the whole block of Delmar down to Goodfellow was filled up with cars of folks ready to kick it with the UCME crew. And at first sight – with all of the green and um...let’s just say spirits –you would have thought that my folks get as excited as our general population sisters and brothers when St. Patrick’s Day comes around by the vibe of the crowd. I don’t know how they fit all of those people up in there and they were serving up everything from turquoise to safari trying to be in the spirit of the party…by way of freakum dresses, T-shirts, short sets, custom-made cat suits and the whole shebang. I must say that of all the ensembles, I caught the most unexpected helping of life from Chocolate Tai’s black Irish Playboy Bunny swag. Big ups to Kuyweezy (sp?) for giving the soulfuls a jolly good time that for some of them was worth the pot of gold they spent at the bar.
Dre day at the Loft. Speaking of pots of gold, I really hope that at least some of y’all saw the “little person” going hard from head to toe – from the disposable four leaf clover cap and matching beads to the green polo – while he tore the club up for Dre Stith’s birthday Saturday night at the Loft. I couldn’t help but think “brotha, where were you when they were casting for ‘Leprechaun in the Hood’?” His presence was the perfect party favor as I showed Dre and my people from the Loft some love at their usually packed and popular Saturday night experience. I’m going to blame it on the rain, but it was kind of empty boots up in there, which had me confused because the fire trucks were outside like they were bustin’ up the capacity code. I still had a good time chattin’ it with the who’s who that rolled through. And I can be safe to assume that the party will be back to its usual glory – given another baby tsunami doesn’t pay another visit to our city any time soon.
Outlasting Outkast. By the time I moseyed on over to Lola to get my groove on as part of SYGU’s tribute to Dirty South hip-hop pioneering duo Outkast, the DJ had spun out of Sir Lucious and Andre 3000’s classics, but the partygoers were by no means done tearing the club up! DJ Reminisce had the folks getting.it.in.org to everything from old to new. They were goin’ so hard that I was waitin’ for that video dancer with the monkey face paint from “B.o.B. (Bombs over Baghdad)” to pop up out of the ground and start twerkin’ on top of a Cadillac. Y’all were groovin’ so hard that you must have forgotten that you had hairstyles to preserve for the work week – or at least Sunday morning service. I saw more than a few fresh Mohawk pixie cuts that were leaning to the side and full of sweat when it was all said and done. The good news is that the Sygus will give y’all another chance to work up a sweat on the dance floor in a week or so when they bring the legendary Pete Rock to their Speakerboxx series next Friday night at Lola.
Second taste of Café Soul’s surroundings. I must say that Café Soul’s new home at Plush is really settin’ well with my soul. It has a certain sexiness about it and the feel of one of those intimate concert venues in New York or Philly is just swaggadocious! I had a blast thanks to the energy, vibe and talent that was overflowing throughout the evening. Rachel Nicole’s rendition of Ledisi’s “Alright” was a triumph considering how tough she is to cover. Now I also want to issue a call to all of the talent that did their part to make the monthly series a full blown brand. I’m not knocking anybody, but I would love to see some of the old faithfuls let their voices fill the venue and get the crowd pumping like the days of the Lucas School House. I also encourage the fresh talents to keep coming through and suggest that some of the others who haven’t to take advantage of this wonderful platform. See y’all next second Friday! Fashion and a disaster. I have good news and bad news about the fashion show put on by the lovely Z. Bailey and company last Saturday at Plush. I’ll start with the good. I enjoyed what I saw of the designs. Because it started so late, I had to punch to the next spot. The tardiness was due to the weather – which delayed the plane of celebrity host Keyishiea ____ (insert designer imposter name of your choice, but it was formerly Dior). In the meantime, I got an inkling of what will be the featured looks in these streets thanks to fashion forwards like Afton, Kim Trigg and Z. Bailey herself and others. Based on what I saw, the late, great Whitney Houston’s massive bow head ornament from “How Will I Know” will be all the rage. NiNi’s flowing gowns (especially the red one) were gorgeous. If she adds some modesty to those splits that start at the bellybutton, she will have a sensation on her hands. Now for the bad news…I don’t want anybody to think that absurd turn of events that went down outside of Plush were in any way connected to the event’s organizers, and normally I don’t delve into the violence, mess and whatnot because it’s not my beat. But I really feel compelled to reach out to the folks and say we’ve got to find a better way to resolve conflict than acting like cowboys when we go out.
Chocolate Tai and Kenya had other ladies envious of their green Saturday night @ Twisted Olive
Alexia and Kyra enjoyed the energy and music Friday night @ Café Soul @ Plush
Amanda and Cheryl were among the lovelies to unwind Friday for Ladies night @ Lola
Alex, Dj Jewel and Destiny were in the mix @ Twisted Olive Saturday night for Umbrella Group and Kyjuan of UCME’s All Green party
Thanks to the hip-hop hop classics courtesy of Outkast, Mia and Tamika were among those tearing up the dance floor Saturday night @ at Lola
W. Dot and C.J. Cole enjoyed the vibe of Cafe Soul Friday night @ Plush
STL heavy hitters Mo Spoon of MPAC and Hot 104.1’s DJ Sir Thurl showed Dre some b-day love and support Saturday @ The Loft
STL power couple Melanie and Dre celebrated Dre’s b-day in a major way Saturday night @ The Loft
South rap” star Lil Flip skipped to the Lou to show love for Dano and Hella Fly’s newest venture. The Houston native touched down in the STL and landed at the Broadway to celebrate the release of Dano’s new single.
Hotties Nelly, Meisha, Kisha and Jah had plenty of sexy swag @ The Broadway for Dano’s single release party
Z. Bailey, Keysha Ka’oir and Phil of Liquid Assets helped showcase some of the STL’s best style Saturday night @ Plush
Camille and Kesha took advantage of the listening pleasure of Café Soul Friday night @ Plush
SYGU’s Darryl took the stage along with Tavonda and Ken as the crowd stayed on fire during the Outkast tribute spin session Saturday @ Lola
Photos by Lawrence Bryant