September 29th, 2011 Edition

China plane lands

‘Unimaginable injustice’

Innocence Project shows evidence that George Allen Jr. didn’t commit murder

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

Way of the Lord

SWEETSENTER HALLOF F

By Rebecca S.Rivas

“This DNA testing coupled with what we now know about the

that Mr.Allen

- Olga Akselrod, Innocence Project

Starsky Wilson is new Deaconess president

Pastor takes helm of foundation that serves urban children

By Chris King Of The

“The community expects us to live out our mission in a way that

tent with where the real needs are.”

–

close ties to the United Church of Christ, where Wilson is a faith leader.

“The Deaconess heritage always has been connected to the church,” Wilson said. “The first leaders of the Deaconess Society in the 1880s started in the old St. Peters Evangelical Church. There always has been a See WILSON, A7

Nathaniel was instrumental in

Taylor,

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Norwood offers new details on Vesta’s death Singer and producer Norwood Young has released a statement addressing some reports surrounding the death of his close friend Vesta Williams, including speculation that she may have tried to take her life.

The singer’s body was found Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 at approximately 4:30 p.m. in a Los Angeles hotel, where, according to Young, she was staying temporarily while transitioning to a new home.

“The manager of the hotel, Mr. Seth Neblett, also a friend of Ms. Williams, discovered her body,” Young says in his statement.

“Mr. Neblett conirms that authorities stated that one bottle (2/3 empty) of a sleeping aid was discovered on the scene on the nightstand next to the bed.” Young explained

to Eurweb.com why he didn’t believe initial reports that her death may have been a suicide. He said her zest for life and Christian values were too strong, and she was too excited about her upcoming “Unsung” special and participation in Sheryl Lee Ralph’s “Divas Simply Singing” event to beneit AIDS charities.

Young adds: “Two years ago, I witnessed Vesta experiencing a debilitating seizure, and this would be a likely scenario, and I wish people would stop fabricating and spreading hurtful rumors.”

the show and left buckle [expletive] [expletive]. Shaunie O’Neal can kiss my [expletive]. She kisses [expletive] to that Evelyn [expletive] and gets the [expletive] who [expletive] her husband and cut her a check, but can’t handle a real woman. [expletive]! I’m getting asked a lot of questions. I ain’t got time for the [expletive]. It is what the [expletive] it is. Ya’ll need to take it to Ms Shaunie. I will keep my mouth zipped right now.”

As previously reported, funeral services will be held at West Angeles Church of God in Christ (3045 S. Crenshaw Blvd., North Campus, Los Angeles) on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Kimsha fuming from ‘Basketball Wives’ LA chop

Shaunie O’Neal cleaned house on “Basketball Wives LA” and Ron Artest’s wife Kimsha was one of the women who was dismissed from the show. Kimsha took the opportunity to vent on her Facebook page. In her post, Artest says: “I see they cut me off

T.O. dodges child support lockdown

July, along with attorney fees, Kessler said. Owens has not been signed by an NFL team. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

Irish Farmer rebukes naked Rihanna

The owner of the ield in Belfast, Ireland where Rihanna just inished shooting her “We Found Love” video, momentarily shut down the video shoot after catching Rihanna running around with her shirt off.

Facing jail time after falling behind a second time on child support payments, Terrell Owens has fulilled his inancial obligations, the attorney for his daughter’s mother told the Atlanta JournalConstitution Owens was due in court Tuesday on a contempt charge after falling behind two months and $10,000. It was the second time this summer Owens was late with his $5,000 monthly payment.

In July, the 37-year-old former wide receiver blamed the NFL lockout in claiming inancial hardship, saying he would only be able to afford $2,500 a month. His request was denied and he settled by paying the $10,000 owed for June and

Farmer Alan Graham agreed to allow his wheat ield to be used to ilm a music video but had no idea who was coming and has said he still wouldn’t have known if you told him. Heading out to get his tractor, Graham saw Rihanna running around topless in his ield and forced the production to shut down. He told local newspaper, “I thought it was inappropriate. I requested them to stop and they did. I had my conversation with Rihanna and I hope she understands where I’m coming from. We shook hands.”

“From my point of view, it was my land, I have an ethos and I felt it was inappropriate,” Graham said. “I wish no ill will against Rihanna and her friends. Perhaps they could acquaint themselves with a greater God.”

Sources: People.com, AJC.com, Eurweb.com, Facebook.com

Kimsha Artest

Rihanna

Recently my guests on my radio and television programs have been persons who are engaged in seeking inclusion for African Americans on construction projects on both sides of the Mississippi River – speciically, the new Mississippi River Bridge, the St. Louis Public Library and several other developments in downtown St. Louis and East St. Louis. The number of minority workers on these sites a few weeks ago totaled nearly zero. These are multimillion dollar jobs, and the construction companies ignore and disrespect the community by engaging in discriminatory hiring traditions.

East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr., former East St. Louis mayor Dr. William Mason, attorney Eric E. Vickers, the Rev. Larry Rice, Zaki Baruti, Kymal Dockett, Richard Dockett, Mykal Ali, Terry Artis, the Rev. Eugene Fowler, Bob Williams –the list goes on – are demanding jobs for African Americans and other minority men and women.

It is hard to accept as true that, after so many years of struggle and sacriices, people of color must again revert to demonstrations and civil disobedience to seek jobs and employment in a country so many of their parents, grandparents, forefathers and ancestors have fought and died for.

The demonstrators are focusing in particular on jobs, because they recognize afirmative action policies require that active measures be taken to ensure that blacks and other minorities enjoy the same opportunities for promotions, salary increases and career advancement that had been the nearly exclusive privilege of whites. They see irsthand that the playing ield is not yet level but illed with cronyism and racism.

The National Labor Relations Board ruled that racial discrimination by a labor union was an unfair labor practice prohibited by the Taft-Hartley Act.

To prove my point, I am going to review some quotes that I hope will make you remember some of the obstacles we have faced but apparently not overcome, and reasons why some activists have taken it back to the streets. Let’s revisit the past. Do you remember Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham jail”?

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was well timed in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’” Roger Wilkins pointed out, “Blacks have a 375-year history on this continent: 245 involving slavery, 100 involving legalized discrimination, and only 30 involving anything else.”

We can all quote Fannie Lou Hamer. She said, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired,” but what some don’t remember is another one of her speeches that included, “Whether you have a Ph.D., or no D, we’re in this bag together. And whether you’re from Morehouse or No house, we’re still in this bag together. There is one thing you have got to learn about our movement. Three people are better than no people. Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”

The negotiators and protest-

Taking inclusion back to the streets

ers declare they will continue with an ongoing effort to gain a clear and permanent guarantee of privileges for their groups, such as jobs on these sites, inclusion to apprenticeship programs, membership in labor unions and equal pay.

Emmeline Pankhurst thought, “You have to make more noise than anybody else, you have to make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, you have to ill all the papers more than anybody else, in fact you have to be there all the time

and see that they do not snow you under, if you are really going to get your reform realized.”

The marchers’ numbers vary from time to time, but they insist they are not going anywhere until justice is served. Margaret Mead put it in a few words:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Please listen the Bernie Hayes radio program Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. on WGNU-920 AM, and watch

Bernie Hayes

EDITORIAL /COMMENTARY

It’s time to close ranks around President Obama

Domestic and global economic woes, lower poll numbers and a stalled agenda have led to a decline of support from key groups that were critical to President Obama’s 2008 winning coalition. Republicans feel emboldened, and they are conident they can beat him next year. Many of the President’s allies have expressed deep disappointment in his perceived lack of toughness, focus and willingness to engage in legislative compromise with implacable GOP legislators. Moreover, certain black leaders, some with obviously dubious motives, have joined the attack over the last few months about his apparent lack of attention to Black America and its disproportionate unemployment numbers. The unemployment rate for blacks is 16.7 percent, compared to a national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent. President Obama addressed the issue directly on Monday during an exclusive report on BET News. He said, “They were critical when I was running for President. There will always be someone who is critical of the President of the United States. That’s my job.” There was continued negative reaction from some who took exception to his speech at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual dinner last Saturday, where he said the caucus should stop complaining and march with him. Obama defended his record, citing one example of several, the health care bill, whose focus is on the uninsured who are disproportionately African-American and Latino. But he acknowledged that it doesn’t mean health reform was only for these groups. Clearly the President’s remarks at the dinner were not directed only at the people in that audience, but also to the broader audience the national and

global media reach. Nevertheless, Obama’s support has been slipping. Since ive months ago when 83 percent of African Americans held “strongly favorable” views of him, this strong approval rating has slipped in a recent poll to only 58 percent. The President is wise to address this dramatic shift in enthusiasm for him in his most reliable base – the African-American community – but he cannot satisfy those who insist he act more black publicly. His public message must resonate with a broader audience if he is to be re-elected to a second term. Then he can govern differently without being concerned with gaining another term. Republicans know this and are making an all-out assault on the President because they fear his initiatives in a inal term. They would like nothing better than to run against an avowed black president.

While we also take exception to some of Obama’s decisions, we have no reason to believe that he and his staff have not made themselves available to hear black leaders’ concerns privately. Despite their differences, Republicans fall in line publicly with their leaders, while some black leaders love to take public shots at Obama, knowing that these attacks create confusion and misunderstanding in the African-American community that discourages needed voter turnout and solidarity. Our question to these critics who sometimes express their discontent with contempt is: what do they wish for, a Republican in the White House? Obama has an uphill battle to retain the presidency, and he is less likely to succeed with these attacks from vainglorious leaders in his base.

COMMENTARY

The death penalty is a barbaric anachronism, a crude instrument not of justice but of revenge. Most countries banished it long ago. This country should banish it now. The state of Georgia was wrong to execute convicted murderer Troy Anthony Davis as protesters and journalists kept a ghoulish vigil Wednesday night – just as the state of Texas was wrong, hours earlier, to execute racist killer Lawrence Russell Brewer. That’s hard for me to write, because if anyone deserved a syringe full of lethal poison it was Brewer. He was an avowed white supremacist who had been convicted, along with two accomplices, of the 1998 hate-crime murder of a black man, James Byrd Jr. They offered Byrd a ride, beat him up and then killed him by chaining his ankles to the back of their pickup and dragging him for more than two miles. When police found Byrd’s body, it was dismembered and decapitated.

“I have no regrets,” Brewer said in an interview with Beaumont, Texas, television station KFDM earlier this year. “I’d do it all over again, to tell you the truth.” Sweet guy, huh? Still, I can’t applaud his death at the hands of the well-practiced Texas executioners. It’s not that I believe his life had any redeeming value, just that the state was

wrong to snuff it out.

The Davis case drew worldwide attention because of questions about the evidence of his guilt. Davis was found guilty of killing a Savannah, Ga., police oficer, Mark MacPhail, in 1989. The conviction was based almost entirely on eyewitness testimony, and in the two decades since that trial, seven of nine witnesses have at least partially recanted. The case became a cause celebre. Luminaries who could never be accused of being soft on crime – such as former FBI Director William Sessions and former GOP Rep. Bob Barr –argued that Davis should not be executed because of doubt about his guilt.

Wednesday night, in his last words, Davis told MacPhail’s family that “I did not personally kill your son, father and brother. I am innocent.” Then a deadly cocktail of drugs was pumped into his veins.

Despite what you see on CSI, there isn’t always DNA or other physical evidence to prove guilt with 99.9 percent certainty. Jurors often have to rely on witnesses whose ield of vision may have been limited –and whose recall, imperfect to begin with, degrades over time. Even when there’s no “reasonable doubt” about the defendant’s guilt – the standard for conviction – there’s often some measure of doubt. And there are questions of process. Were witnesses coerced into testifying against Davis? A few say they were. Did prosecutors prove their case?

The jurors certainly believed they did. Could racial bias have

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Troy Davis and black community genocide

I am not angry at all about the execution of Troy Davis and can’t understand for the life of me why so many of us are when in every hearing on every level of the justice system, the conviction was upheld. Is it because it was another black man? Well, I’ll be doggone. Another black man is killed by a “system,” but you all don’t give a doggone about the “system” of black-onblack crime, or should I say the black community genocide. Why are we so angry because of what we deem injustice when every day we overlook the blatant disrespect we give each other? How are we angry over injustice when we don’t do a doggone thing to prevent or eliminate it when the cameras aren’t rolling?

How are we angry about this injustice but tolerate the injustice of failing schools, the loss of accreditation in predominantly black-populated school districts, the iring/laying off of great teachers and the drastic budget cuts to the education system?

If you all get off your lazy behinds, turn off Basketball Wives and other ignorant, nonintellect stimulating shows, read the newspaper instead of sex and violence-illed novels,

turn on some news outlets and challenge others to do the same, you won’t be a people of “reaction” but will be a “proactive” people,

If you all quit following the media hungry so-called “black leaders” – whom you have to pay to get them to take up the cause, and the only way they will is if the media (that we accuse of being biased) is covering the story – then they will disappear along with the cause when the news cameras are turned off.

If you cooperate with the

n You all don’t give a doggone about the “system” of blackon-black crime.

police and get rid of the “I don’t snitch” mentality and take back your neighborhoods, things will change.

If you volunteer with community organizations, the school systems, mentor someone and take care of one another, things will change.

If you all vote during local, state and national elections, regardless as to how little media attention the election gets. and if you all vote for city council, aldermen, mayors, governors, state legislators, judges, federal legislators, presidents, vote for local, state, and federal ballot initiatives and amendments,

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gateway volunteers

It was nice to read in The American that Bertha GilkeyBonds and the Black Alliance for Educational Options have been helping students by letting them know about the aviation program at Gateway Institute of Technology. These aviation jobs are jobs that cannot easily be outsourced to other countries.

neighbor Illinois has done. Let the Missourian without sin be the irst to put the lethal needle in!

Matthew R. Dunnigan Rome, Italy

Grateful and humbled

things will change.

If you all vote for school board members, attend school board meetings, and consider yourselves stakeholders in school systems, things will change.

If you all cut out the selfish, non-caring attitudes (“that doesn’t have anything to do with me, my kids aren’t like that, my neighborhood is safe, I have a job with beneits, etc.), things will change.

If you all would recognize jury duty as a privilege and an honor and quit trying to avoid serving, things will change.

If you quit whining, crying, and considering yourselves victims and blaming everyone but yourself for your situation, things will change.

If you quit throwing out the doggone race card every time someone is convicted, talked about, etc., things will change.

If you offer up genuine praise and worship, quit being Sunday-morning Christians, part-time Muslims, or however you identify yourself spiritually, things will change. Yes, I believe the justice system is broken and imperfect. And yes, I believe that we as a people, regardless of our political afiliation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, and gender, can make things better. All we have to do is want it and go get it. Quit being a benchwarmer and get out and make plays. If I offended you, send all hate mail to hell.

Missouri for not protecting me and my family against this

having

Erin O’Reilly Via email

been a factor? Unlikely, given that the jury included seven blacks and ive whites. Should Davis’ attorney have done a better job of presenting a defense? Almost surely. It’s a mixed bag. I can’t ignore the fact that over the years, not one of the many judges who examined the case concluded there had been a true miscarriage of justice. This suggests to me that Davis was probably guilty.

But “probably” isn’t good enough in a capital case – and this is why the death penalty is lawed as a practical matter. Someone who is wrongly imprisoned can always be released, but death is irrevocable. In scores of cases across the country, newly examined DNA evidence has proved that inmates jailed for rape or other sexual crimes were in fact not guilty. It is not just likely but certain that some defendants now on death row are innocent. Even if only one is eventually executed, that will be a tragic and unacceptable abuse of state power.

There was a chilling moment in a recent GOP candidates’ debate when Texas Gov. Rick Perry was asked about having authorized 234 executions, more than any other governor in modern U.S. history. The crowd, drawn largely from tea party ranks, cheered this record as if it were a great accomplishment. “I’ve never struggled with that at all,” Perry said, referring to execution as “the ultimate justice.”

But he should struggle with it. We all should.

Eugene Robinson’s email

The wording of the article unfortunately gave the impression that no one else was spreading the word about that and the other programs at Gateway Institute of Technology. A number of parents of aviation program graduates have been recruiting for the program. In addition, many Gateway staff, students and parents attend numerous open house and recruitment events promoting Gateway programs.

Audience members hearing aviation staff presentations pass the word on to other families. More students apply to Gateway than enrollment spaces exist for the school. Many other people have been volunteering their time promoting the aviation program.

Carol Prombo St. Louis City

God’s domain

It is not just wishful thinking that states can live without the death penalty. Generally, states that do not have capital punishment have lower homicide rates than states that have capital punishment.

After Cain killed Abel, God put a seal on Cain so that no human being would presume to execute him (Gen. 4:15). Execution is God’s domain – not man’s. This is the ideal of what God intended/intends for humanity even for today. Cain became a wanderer, but society today can not have killers on the loose. This is why we have jails. Incarceration is enough. The law of love leads one to choose life instead of Until the saints come marching in, and I am not just referring to the ones down in New Orleans, we all have work to do. Missouri, please abolish the death penalty as your next door

I want to again take this opportunity to publicly thank Dr. Donald M. Suggs, the St. Louis American Foundation and his team of caring staff and volunteers. They worked tirelessly to create an event in support of education and young people that is unmatched across this region. It now becomes our personal responsibility to ensure that it continues to grow in such a way that more children’s educational needs are met. I am eternally grateful and humbled to have been thought worthy of receiving the 2011 Salute to Excellence Lifetime Achiever Award.

Joyce M. Roberts

St. Louis

Raise the cigarette tax

I have a teenage son who is interested in smoking cigarettes and am very disappointed to read that Gov. Nixon is not supporting a raise of our cigarette tax in Missouri. We have the lowest cigarette tax in the nation. I understand that this is an economically challenging time for businesses but feel that raising the cigarette tax a nominal amount to 34 cents is minor enough that the cigarette companies can easily accommodate. Cigarettes are among one of the what I call “original toxins” which need to be taxed so that it discourages our citizens from using. And yes, eventually, maybe the cigarette companies will have to ind another use for their toxic substance! Look at what the hemp industry has done with hemp – the cigarette companies can just use their imagination to innovate another use for their product and get out of our lungs and air. I feel like suing the state of

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Columnist Michelle R. Robinson

toxin by

the lowest cigarette tax in the USA which incentivizes smoking.

Oficial White House photo by Pete Souza

Information sessions forCultural Leadership program

Cultural Leadership, a local, nonprofit leadership training program for high school sophomores and juniors, will host two information sessions from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, October 10 at the Jewish Community Center (2 Millstone Campus Drive, 63146), and Wednesday, October 12 at Central Reform Congregation (5020 Waterman Ave. 63108). The program is open to the public.

The purpose of the sessions is to share information about applying to this award-winning, one-of-a-kind youth leadership development program that is beginning its eighth year in the St. Louis region.

Cultural Leadership is an intensive yearlong program that gives high school students the tools and skills to be change agents and social justice activists. The students in each class are required to attend monthly programs and retreats, complete a three-week educational journey to the East Coast and throughout the South, engage in fundraising and public-relations activities and speak publicly about the need to fight racism. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to attend parent meetings approximately every six weeks For information, call Cultural Leadership at 314-725-3222, email programdirector@culturalleadership.co m or visit www.culturalleadership.org.

Reid Scholarship Foundation fundraiser

The Reid Scholarship Foundation

Presents: The Butterfly Effect – A Networking & Fundraising Kickoff Event. Friday October 7 from 5-9:00 p.m. at The Moonrise Hotel, 6177 Delmar Blvd. A$20 donation supports scholarship and mentoring opportunities for college-bound AfricanAmerican males. Giveaways featuring Rams tickets, massage & spa packages, & gift cards to local restaurants. Complementary wine or nonalcoholic tasting selections, a signature event glass/ gift bag and appetizers. To purchase tickets, visit www.reidscholarship.org.

Student author signs books

Cool Valley Elementary student author Taran Manuel hands a copy of his book “Mark’s Addition:With no hope,there is no understanding”to Fred Ellis,the school’s food service director.Manuel was recognized by Ferguson-Florissant school board members for the publication of his book.

Auction of tax-delinquent property

The Saint Louis County Collector of Revenue will conduct the annual supplemental sale of tax-delinquent property on Tuesday, November 1 at 10 a.m. in front of the County Council Chambers on the first floor of County Administration Building, 41 South Central Ave. in Clayton. Sales will be made to the highest bidder at public auction, and all sales are final.

All persons wishing to participate in the sale must register before making bids. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the sale in the Office of the Collector of Revenue, located on the street level of the County Administration building. All Bidders must have some form of verifiable current picture identification.

Acomplete list of properties available for bid will be published in the St. Louis Countian on September 20, September 27 and on October 4. Please be reminded that the list is subject to change without notice as property owners may pay the delinquent taxes before the time of the tax sale.

As of September 20, 2011, that list and accompanying instructions can also be accessed online at http://revenue.stlouisco.com/Collection/TaxSalesParticipants must adhere to all instructions.

Anyone with questions regarding the tax sale is encouraged to contact the delinquent tax department at 314-615-4207.

Must be something we can do

By Ruth-Miriam Garnett For The St.Louis American

As my St. Louis American colleagues partied down at the Salute to Education, lucky for them I was home resolving monumental life questions, sinuses swollen, popping Benadryl and drinking tea. I am sure they are grateful.

Luckily for me, I have a lot to draw from with the New York Times’ review of Ralph Richard Banks’s new book, Is Marriage for White People? You may recall, I last discussed black male joblessness for the past four decades. Themes in this review by Princeton’s Imani Perry dovetail into my continuing analysis, Three options present. Do many black women 1) opt for self-actualization through motherhood, with no expectation of marriage to the child’s father, 2) self-validate solely from relationships with men, bearing children as an afterthought, or 3)believe pregnancy will secure the relationship, keeping the man in their lives?

Either way, father or father-figure absence seems not a good thing for children, male or female. Don’t know what your bottom line is, but this is definitely mine. My pastor is a stickler for parents bringing children to church, stating frequently: “If you don’t put God in your children’s lives, you don’t love your children.” I’ll go him one better: If you don’t plan your life, you (and your children) will have to take what you can get.

Don’t get me wrong here. I understand the odds, unemployment, the prison pipeline and narcotics flooding our communities, all instances of massive repression targeting black men. Even beyond these, a very few men escape an affliction I call “Man-Stupid.” One symptom of this neurosis is the refusal by a man to identify and accept the feminine in himself, leading to the full-blown psychosis: male supremacy.

It is my belief that male supremacy and white supremacy are identical: “I am better than you.” Black women must fend off both, in the same way the black community must counter both external and internal pressures.

Nine months ago, I spent the night in a Ferguson jail for insisting on seeing a man beaten by eight policemen while having a panic attack in a parking lot. Iwas arrested and booked on a felony larceny committed in Los Angeles, my request to see the paperwork refused. If I’m lying, I’m flying.

Conversations from adjacent cells by dreadlocked young black men, ostensibly drug dealers, included regrets about their fathers not being there for them, and how they were determined to take care of their children. The tragedy is and was that, even with being on the right track, they believed this was all they could do. Gil Scott-Heron sang, “Must be something we can do.” One thing, we can leave those stankalicious/genocidal Tea Partiers out of the discussion.

Ruth-Miriam Garnett is author of Laelia, a novel. Her newest book is Concerning Violence, New & Selected Poems For tour and book events, contact latalewestley@aol.com

RuthMiriam Garnett

ALLEN

Continued from A1

The court filing cites new DNAevidence, a recently uncovered serology report that was never turned over to the prosecution or defense, and the discovery that a key prosecution witness gave hypnoticallyenhanced testimony against Allen at trial.

On the morning of February 4, 1982, Mary Bell, a 31-yearold St. Louis Circuit Court reporter, was murdered in her LaSalle Park home during one of the heaviest snowstorms in St. Louis history.

Police investigating the case were searching for a known sex offender, Kirk Eaton, whose brother lived in the same apartment complex as Bell. Eaton was wanted for questioning in a rash of rapes in the area that occurred in the early morning hours, according to court documents.

was profoundly mentally ill and then withheld critical evidence that might have set him free,” said Barry Scheck, co–director of the Innocence Project, which is affiliated with Cardozo School of Law.

Drunken,prompted confession

Allen, who had been admitted to psychiatric wards several times, eventually ended up making a recorded confession.

On the recording, Allen informs the officers that he is under the influence of alcohol, and throughout the interrogation an officer prompts Allen to give him answers to fit the crime, often asking Allen to change his answer to do so.

On March 14, 1982, the police picked up Allen several blocks from the victim’s house, mistakenly thinking he was the sex offender. Although police eventually realized their mistake, they still decided to interrogate Allen, a diagnosed schizophrenic who did not have access to a car and did not drive. To commit the crime, Allen would have had to walk 10 miles from his University City home in 20 inches of snow and walk back because public transportation was not available that snowy day, attorneys said.

“Police arrested Mr. Allen thinking he is someone else, interrogated him anyway, knowing all the time that he

At trial, Allen’s mother, sister and his sister’s boyfriend all testified that early in the morning on February 4, 1982, Allen helped to push his sister’s car out of the snow and never left the house after that. But these arguments were unpersuasive against the coerced confession and what is now known to be highly misleading serology evidence, defense attorneys said.

Moreover, police withheld lab results and evidence that would have harmed the state’s case against Allen. At trial, a police lab analyst testified that the only antigens recovered from seminal fluid at the scene were Aand H antigens, which could not exclude Allen as the source of the semen. The prosecution emphasized this in its closing argument. There was no other physical evidence linking Allen to the crime scene.

However, in 2003 and 2010, the Innocence Project and Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce initiated two DNAtests, and the DNAevidence has now proven that Allen was not the source of the semen.

Also, newly discovered police and lab documents, which were not disclosed to the prosecution or defense, show that police actually found semen samples from two different men on the robe the victim was wearing when she was attacked. One had a blood type consistent with Allen, the victim’s then-boyfriend and her estranged husband; DNAhas now shown it was from the victim’s boyfriend, not Allen. The other man had B antigens in his semen, which excludes Allen, the victim’s boyfriend and the victim’s husband.

The discovered documents also show that prior to arresting Allen, police were collecting samples from suspects to determine their blood type because they believed the perpetrator was someone whose semen contained B antigens. Police never revealed this to the prosecution or the defense. Someone with access to the lab documents actually scribbled through exculpatory portions of laboratory reports, but fortunately the writing is still legible.

Allen’s DNAwas not found on any of the remaining crime evidence. Testing uncovered an unidentified male DNAprofile on a towel in which the murder weapon was wrapped. This DNAcould not have come from Allen, the victim’s boyfriend or her husband.

“This DNAtesting coupled with what we now know about the serology evidence proves that Mr. Allen is innocent of the crime,” said Olga Akselrod, Innocence Project

staff attorney.

Under Missouri habeas corpus procedures, the Missouri Attorney General is responsible for responding to the petition. Although Joyce helped attorneys in gathering documents for several years, she has declined to take a position on the merits of the petition.

The original prosecutor, Dean Hoag, still believes that Allen is responsible for this crime, which is not uncommon in innocence cases, Akselrod said. However, Hoag said he did not have the exculpatory evidence when the case was tried.

Hyponotized witness

Attorneys also have uncovered new evidence that police and prosecutors influenced the testimony of a critical prosecution witness, who was called to corroborate a small but significant detail from Allen’s confession. In the confession, Allen told the police that during the attack he heard some-

one called out “Sherry.” At trial, prosecutors called a friend and co-worker, Pamela Richardson, who had been to the victim’s apartment around the time of the murder. She testified that she was at the apartment and called out Mary’s name after knocking on her door. The witness has now come forward to say that she doesn’t remember whether or not she actually called out the victim’s name. This is consistent with what she initially told the police.

Richardson now admits that she was asked by police to undergo hypnosis to help her remember that she called out the name. That she was forced to undergo this highly suggestive practice to get her to “remember” this detail was also never disclosed to the prosecution or the defense, attorneys said.

“False confessions have played a role in 25 percent of the 273 DNAexonerations.

People with mental illness, such as Mr. Allen, are particularly vulnerable to making a false confession,” said Ameer Gado, one of Allen’s attorneys with Bryan Cave.

“Mr. Allen has already lost 29 years of his life, but we are hopeful that the state will acknowledge the unimaginable injustice we have uncovered and join us in our efforts to free him,” added Dan Harvath, Allen’s other Bryan Cave attorney.

Reginald Morganfield grew up with Allen in University

Postal rally

Hundreds of postal service employees gathered in front of the Main Post Office Tuesday afternoon during a “Save America’s Post Offices” rally.The workers are in support of H.R.1351, legislation that addresses the financial crisis facing the Postal Service.This bill will allow the service to apply the billions of dollars in pension overpayments to meet it’s financial obligations.

City and has supported Allen’s mother, Lonzetta Taylor, throughout the case.

“George was always quiet,” Morganfield said. “He never got in a fight with anyone. For him to commit a violent act like that, to stab someone, that’s not in his makeup at all.” Morganfield said that Allen’s mother has been his number one supporter through everything.

“She’s always believed in him,” he said. “It was convenient for the police to clear the books. They said, ‘Why not?’” At the Innocence Project’s Sept. 26 press conference, Taylor said that she hopes the Bell family also finds justice.

“I have been waiting a very long time for justice for my son,” Taylor said. “I know that nothing can replace the many years that he has lost, but it is my greatest wish that I see the day when he walks out of prison.”

Taylor called Tom Block her “guardian angel.” Block is the volunteer prison minister who helped get Allen’s case in the hands of the Innocence Project. At the press conference, Block said Taylor needs the community to stand behind Allen over the next months and show their support in the courtroom, if the case ends up there.

“This evidence now before us, in my opinion proves George was wrongly convicted,” Block said, “and should be released now and sent home to his long-suffering mother.”

Photo by Wiley Price

George Allen Jr.

When the buck finally stops at the top

We are told that levels of public confidence in the media and in politicians are at historic lows. One response by the PostDispatch to this predicament seems to be an attempt to get on the public’s side by feasting on public corruption stories – a staple of journalism, to be sure, but the Post’s selective rabidity on this beat is new and noteworthy. It’s “selective” because not all allegedly corrupt or apparently damaged politicians are equal in the eyes of Post editors. The American went nuts over the Post’s treating

as front-page news what the paper’s county politics reporter described as “swirling rumors” about corruption in St. Louis County government – that, it was swirlingly rumored, could go “all the way to the top.” At the top of county government, of course, is County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. Unlike everyone on the Post editorial board, Charlie is African-American. At the same time, the Post kept a suspiciously low throttle on what everyone knew were real, actual, not rumored (with or without the swirls) cor-

ruption investigations in city government – drug dealing in the police department, drug smuggling in the jails, payola in liquor control and that mysterious interstate sale of city road salt in the Streets Department. The Post’s reporting on these stories always stopped far short of the top – Mayor Francis G. Slay And though you’d need a sturdy windbreaker to keep

away the swirling rumors regarding dirt in the Slay administration – for what little swirling rumors are worth, though they were enough to get Charlie Dooley on 1A! – those rumors never swirled into the pages of the Post. When Post editorial board member Eddie Roth left the paper to work for the Mayor’s Office, it was like a bad joke, or a confirmation of the obvious. The political fix was always in.

To give Slay credit where it is due, he is getting what he has paid for. The Mayor’s Office is nothing if not a media message shop. Slay’s chief of staff Jeff Rainford is a former journalist with skill at manipulating his former colleagues in the fourth estate. Slay also has kept on the campaign payroll Gentry Trotter, whose handiwork is not always visible, and Richard Callow, who is understood to be so good at twisting message at the Post and on the networks that Dooley went to Callow to fix his swirling rumor problem. Whether that was a classic case of getting paid to fix what you yourself had broken – the clas-

Redditt Hudson recently announced his candidacy for in the 13th District seat in the Missouri Senate being vacated by term-limited Tim Green. Hudson wrote the 2009 ACLU report on the St. Louis city jails, Suffering in Silence, and has been a community leader in the effort to reopen the Reginald Clemons case.

Photo by Wiley Price

sic political operative double payday – only Callow and his paymasters know.

Enter: Lewis

That is why it is so heartening to see President of the Board of Alderman Lewis Reed (unlike Comptroller Darlene Green) flex the considerable powers of his office and stride strongly into the message game in city politics. Last week Reed delivered to media outlets an enlightening e-mail trail between disgraced Corrections supervisor Eugene Stubblefield and his boss, disgraceful Public Safety director Charles Bryson, a Slay appointee and long-time Slay stooge. Rather than sit back and whine that the Post never traces the many crises in city government (such as jail-breaking jailbirds) “all the way to the top,” Reed produced the one thing no journalist worth his purloined road salt can deny: documents. Reed seems to have gambled that the Post loves a mismanaging politician story even more than it loves Francis Slay. And he seems to have been right. Post city reporters can thank Reed for making their beat much, much more juicy, if they actually get unchained to carve up the 3,000-pound pink

elephant in the room.

Only the guilty survive?

Meanwhile, the Post is still never happier than when it is carving up a black man with sloppy politics. St. Louis City Treasurer Larry Williams has ended up on that chopping block, thanks to a staffer who got snagged in an investigation of corruption at a charter school (and was discovered in a noshow job in Williams’ office). That’s a story, and the Post was justified in doing it. Whether or not it was justified in doing a follow-up story illustrated by a photograph of Williams’ rear end – an editorial decision at the intellectual level of bathroom humor – is another question. However, the Post editorial board went too far in arguing that Williams should resign because he has “survived” several incidents in the positions he held at Bi State Development Agency (now Metro) and as City Treasurer. When did survival become an indication of guilt?

While some of the incidents show bad judgment on the part of Williams, the voters have repeatedly reelected him since he was appointed in 1981 by then Mayor Vincent Schoemehl – with steady, full support of whatever the Post describes as whatever is left of the Democratic machine in the city. Further, Williams has not been accused by any judicial body of any crimes associated with the litany of incidents cited by the Post. Using the word “survived” implies that Williams was accused of wrongdoing or criminal activities in the controversies listed by the Post, which is not the case. Or it suggests Williams was guilty, but just not caught. If Post editors think that is the case, they should come right out and say it and outright accuse the man of crimes.

Contrast these shadowy, swirling suspicions to the verdict by a jury that Sheriff Jim Murphywas guilty of racial discrimination in the hiring and promotion of black employees working in his office. Does the Post believe that Sheriff Murphy should resign? The paper’s editors have never said so in print. Should Slay resign because his staff cannot keep prisoners from escaping from jail or keep their hands off road salt bought by the city with taxpayer funds?

The Post also cutely sneaks in the insinuation that Williams hires people for his office with the modus operandi of cronysim and nepotism. Y’all without sin in city government can cast the first stone on that issue, and the Post should be ashamed for singling Williams out for what is a citywide – countywide? statewide? nationwide? – malaise. We’re waiting for the Post to trace all the Slays (and people in families close to or related to the Slays) in government or politically-connected jobs. The patronage family tree in city politics would cast a lot of shade.

The American and the Post are on record supporting the elimination of the redundant county offices in St. Louis city government. The EYE does not, however, believe that the Treasurer’s Office is the worst example of bad governance nor redundancy in the patronage offices. Putting up a Slay ally like Fred Wessels as the new treasurer or serving up malicious innuendos that suggest someone is somehow guilty before proven innocent is not the solution. The only real solution that the American has long championed is the elimination of all the county offices.

Senator Redditt

As for Slay, Bryson, Stubblefield and those jail-breaking jailbirds, the smartest guy in this story is no longer being mentioned in it. That would be Redditt Hudson, who wrote the 2009 ACLU report on degradation, drug-smuggling and abuse in the city jails. Rainford dismissed the report as nonsense, and the Post believed Rainford. Too bad Hudson doesn’t live in the city and can’t campaign on this good work where it counts the most. He has, however, announced his intention to run for the Missouri Senate in the 13th District seat being vacated by term-limited Tim Green. State Rep. Steve Webb seemed the obvious candidate for that seat, but Hudson told the EYE he spoke to Webb and Webb said he had no set plans to run.

Charter schools should do right, or close down

By State Rep. Tishaura Jones

St. Louis American

For The

I am supportive of children receiving a quality education, no matter where they go to school – district, charter, private, virtual or home-school.

Currently, a child’s performance on the annual MAP test is the only way we can get a snapshot of that school’s or district’s performance. In Missouri, the results of those tests are distributed on a yearly basis by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Last month, test scores revealed that the schools run by Imagine Schools are the worst performing schools (district or otherwise) in St. Louis.

For example, Imagine College Prep, their high school, had higher scores in Math on 2010 than they did in 2011. My heart sank when I saw that the MAP results for all six Imagine Schools changed very little, and in some cases were worse, than the previous year.

Since December 2010, I’ve received several calls from parents, teachers and administrators with complaints about the Imagine Schools in my district. They told stories of egregious acts against children and unfair treatment of employees. They all contacted me after trying to follow the proper chain of command and their complaints fell on deaf ears from the administrators at Imagine, the sponsor, Missouri Baptist University, and DESE.

By

charter schools and at the same time expand them statewide. I plan on iling the bill again next year because a key provision of the bill outlined a path for closing schools that were not performing better than the district they were located in.

Used properly, charter schools are a way for school districts to offer choices to students and families. This is why the St. Louis Public School District recently developed an overall plan that includes more charter school offerings. Why can’t we have another school dedicated to performing arts or language immersion in suburban districts? Why can’t we have public, gender-speciic schools because science tells us that boys learn differently than girls?

America is on a race to the bottom when it comes to educating our children and if we don’t change our approach, we will continue to see the same results.

Great educational options are also what will make our city attractive to young residents and encourage them to start families and plant roots here. I met countless families when I was canvassing for election who said, “I love the city, but we’re moving to the suburbs as soon as our children reach school age.”

I’m a mother irst, and a legislator second. As a mother, I want what’s best for my child, and as a legislator, I want what’s best for all children. My district is totally within the city limits, and I cannot move. But, as a legislator, I can try to pass bills that make the education landscape equal for all children and give them a ighting chance. Education is the great equalizer and is the civil rights issue of our generation Last year, I iled legislation to increase accountability for

I am a strong advocate for quality charter schools. However, the key word is “quality.” If a charter school is not delivering results for our children, it should be closed. I also believe that this same rule should apply to ANY school that consistently delivers poor test results. A school where children aren’t learning just perpetuates that cycle that plagues the poor and disadvantaged in this country: teen pregnancy, gangs, drugs, violence and incarceration. .

The response from Imagine’s administrators about why the scores were so low was “the students arrive at Imagine schools far below grade level.” That’s what they said – it’s the kids’ fault! But, isn’t that the same case with other charter schools in the city? KIPP St. Louis accepts children at the 5th grade. They too arrive below grade level. Yet, KIPP is .03 percent below SLPS in communication arts and 12.7 percent above SLPS in math. Same student pool, different results.

These are children’s lives we’re playing with here, not chess pieces. Imagine Schools: please do right by our children, or leave.

Jones is the Assistant Minority Floor Leader and represents the 63rd District in St. Louis.

Elderly & Disabled Notiication Program

Elderly and disabled customers are eligible for a special program aimed at preventing interruption of natural gas service during the winter. If you or a member of your household are age 65 or older, or are disabled, you are encouraged to register for this program.

Once registered and before a winter interruption becomes necessary, Laclede will:

• send two notices to the customer by mail; attempt to reach the customer by telephone, if possible; and make personal contact on the premises with the customer or any member of the family who is over the age of 15; and

• notify a party selected by the customer; such as a family member, social service agency or charitable organization, so that outside help can be provided.

Customers who register, and designate a third-party contact, have the peace of mind that Laclede will notify someone who can work on their behalf to avoid natural gas service interruption.

For further information on this program, to request a registration form and to hear about special payment arrangements, please call (314) 621-6960, or write to:

Laclede Gas Company Customer Relations Dept.

Drawer 9 St. Louis, Missouri 63166

State Rep. Tishaura Jones

Dorothy Elijah

February 18, 1936— October 1, 2010

If tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today, While thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say. I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, And each time that you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, That an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand. We can’t believe it’s been one year…. Reggie, Charmaine and Nevelle

Patsy Ruth Betts

Born: March 8, 1927

Died: September 8, 2011

Patsy Ruth Betts, nee Enge, grew up in St. Louis, MO and graduated from Vashon High School, class of 1945. She married Hermon A. Betts and had four girls from this union. She was a homemaker for many years and considered raising her four daughters her most important vocation. She lived and worked in Los Angeles, CA for over 15 years, before moving back to St. Louis to care for her ailing mother. For the past seven years, Patsy lived in MD near two of her four daughters, as well as her only grandchild. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters and sons-in-law, Marcia Thompson, Sheri Betts, Kathy (Perry) Wilson, Mione (Matthew) Cloney, and granddaughter Taylor Wilson. She is survived by sisters Daisy Chambers, Nell (Frank) Scott, Deverieux (Gregory) Tate,

Obituaries

Kathy Alexander and Yvette Enge. Patsy will also be missed by her nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of adopted sons and daughters, relatives and friends who loved her very much.

A memorial service will be held in St. Louis on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 2pm at Austin Layne Mortuary, 7239 W. Florissant Ave., St. Louis, MO 63136, (314) 382-1214. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that monetary donations be made to Mission of Love Charities, Inc., 6180 Old Central Avenue, Capitol Heights MD 20743, (301) 333-4440, Website: www. MOLCinc.org.

In Loving Memory of Fannie Lee Jackson 1894—1993

Fannie Lee (Brown) Jackson was born September 23, 1894, deceased August 20, 1993. She and her husband, Dave Jackson (who preceded her in death), came to St. Louis in 1900. There were four children born to this union, all deceased but one daughter, Linda Cherry. She was a good and faithful servant, and a longtime member of Greater Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. We all loved her, but God loved her best. Family & Friends

Tribute to Mary E. Temple

April 19, 1932— September 2, 2010

Our Dearest Madear, it’s been one very long year

inside my heart speaking so clearly to me

I could almost hear your thoughts and that’s what helps me breath and believe I will see you again

You will always be a voice inside my heart

I can bring up in my mind these words of wisdom you used to say all the time.

“You do what you can do and let God do the rest”

You where always direct in the things you would say

That’s why you are still highly missed to this day

We know you are happy praising God from up above

We all still miss you Madear...

From your family with love, Shirley, Helen, Peaches. Shunta, Steve, all the grandchildren & Sisterfriend Carrie R

Lottie Angelle Logan

On Friday, September 23, 2011 Lottie Angelle Logan departed this life to join her Lord. She leaves behind her beloved husband Lloyd, and her children Terri (Ford), Connie (Flagg), Brian, Michael and Kevin; grandchildren Jarrett, Kara, Evan, Austin, Clayton, Briana, Aric, Justin, Elijah, Kaleb, Zion, Kai, Kadence, and Sarai. Visitation Wed. Sept. 28 from 4-7 pm at St. Elizabeth Church, 4330 Shreve Ave., St. Louis, MO. Funeral Mass Thurs., Sept. 29 at 11 am, also at St. Elizabeth’s. Interment at Calvary cemetery.

In Loving Memory of Jadine Walters

October 3, 1948— June 20, 2009

13 Black Katz benefit Kinloch tornado relief

Members of 13 Black Katz present Mayor Ann Marshal of Kinloch with a check for $1,000 to assist with tornado relief. Pictured from left to right are Joe Bryant, Clay King, Mayor Marshal, Henry Lazard and Steve Gray.

SLPS gets 6 accreditation points from DESE

District shows academic improvement for four consecutive years

reer Education Courses, College Placement, Career Education Placement, Graduation Rate and Bonus Map Achievement.

The six accreditation points are the most SLPS has earned since the state’s accountability standards were last revised in 2006. The district received five accreditation points in 2010, three in 2009, four in 2008, two in 2007 and four in 2006.

academic improvement for four consecutive years. While there is still work to do, I want to congratulate the students and staff for their continuous efforts to improve academically each and every day.”

Jadine Walters Mary E. Temple

But you will always be that voice inside my heart like an angel whispering in my ear, telling me that you are near you will always be my sheroe everything a women of God should be

You taught us how to love one another unconditionally you will always be that voice

I was never so blessed as the day you were born. We love and miss you so much, Your mother and father, Jaydee and Gertrude Walters Your sisters Antonio and Terri Browley, nieces Sharnette, Shellie (Markeith), Shaunte, London, and nephew Justin Browley. James McKay (a dear love) and son Tavon Walters. All of your Prince of Peace

By American staff

The St. Louis Public School District received six six points towards accreditation in the final Annual Performance Report released this week by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The preliminary report released in August showed SLPS with only four APR points.

SLPS earned accreditation points by meeting the state’s performance standards in the following areas: Advanced Courses, Ca-

“We are excited to continue moving in the right direction,” said Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams.

“St. Louis Public School District students have shown

The St. Louis Public School District is currently unaccredited by the state of Missouri. However, all District high schools are individually accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.

Dorothy Elijah

Patsy Betts

Fannie Jackson

Black MBAs tee off for scholarships

The National Black MBA Association’s St. Louis Chapter held its 12 annual Scholarship Golf Tournament last week at the Forest Park Golf Course. The chapter has awarded more than $365,000 in scholarship awards. Recent high school awardees graduated from high schools across the area, representing Belleville East, Parkway North, Metro High School, Nerinx Hall, Gateway Tech, Hazelwood West, and Westminister Christian Academy. Awardees are pursuing degress at Howard University, Vanderbilt University, Southern Illinois University, Lindenwood University, Indiana university, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Washington University, and Webster University.

A forgotten anniversary

Another anniversary of less notoriety is being celebrated in New York City. About a decade ago, tens of thousands from around the globe converged on Durban, South African for the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. That’s a mouthful but we were faced with a mountain of important work. We made history at the Durban conference but the news of our work was stopped cold.

Why? The WCAR Conference ended on September 8. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center went down on September 11, 2001.

Many of us had arrived stateside prior to the attack, full of excitement and optimism about the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). The DDPA was a 62-page report that included a series of principles and proposals for ighting racism.

the slave trade are a crime against humanity …that the transatlantic slave trade are among the major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences.” This was powerful stuff because opponents feared this would open the loodgates for reparation demands.

One of the most important global conferences on race in contemporary times was boycotted by the U.S. government. George H.W. Bush, then president, refused to send a delegation until he felt the wrath of the Congressional Black Caucus. However, when the language about the IsraeliPalestinian conlict didn’t suit its fancy, the delegation walked out of the proceedings. Such bad behavior on the international stage by the U.S. but certain not unexpected!

Many U.S. conference participants were stuck overseas because all lights were cancelled. Days of fear turned into weeks, then months of confusion for those in this country. The U.S. mainstream media had already ignored the international conference but after 9/11, DDPA suffocated. Momentum was lost.

The United Nations-sponsored conference focused on the question of slavery and Palestinian liberation in the sharpest terms ever for non-governmental organizations and governments. This was due in no small part to the agitation and organizing of advocates from throughout the African Diaspora.

Thousands of grassroots activists engaged in debates, street demonstrations and intense lobbying to pressure the oficial delegations.

One of the controversial issues in the Durban program was slavery. It afirmed that “slavery and

The United States government is continuing that bad behavior. The United Nations General Assembly is marking the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). The U.S. intends to boycott Durban III. They rightfully anticipate that just as reparations for slavery and Palestinian liberation were lashpoints a decade ago, those issues will emerge once again for international discussion. At a time when a black president heads the country, the discussion about race and its damaging manifestations should be lowing from all quarters. Once again, it looks like it will be left up to the justiceseeking folks to make it happen. For more information on the Durban + 10 Coalition meeting in New York City and Durban III, visit www.durban10coalition.com.

Jamala Rogers

Photos by Wiley Price

DNC meets with CBC

Obama addresses Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

American staff

The leadership of the Democratic National Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus were in attendance at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner on Sept. 24 when President Obama delivered remarks, applauding the caucus for pushing legislation on the community’s behalf and challenging its members to do more.

He acknowledged that the caucus has responded to the fact that black unemployment has reached 16.7 percent and that almost 40 percent of black children live in poverty.

“With your help, we started ighting our way back from the brink,” he said, citing child tax credits, consumer protections from mortgage lenders, expanded Pell Grants and health care reform as examples.

After calling for the passage of his American Jobs Act, and criticizing Republican opponents who are determined to block him every step of the way, Obama concluded his speech: “I expect all of you to march with me and press on. Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. Stop complaining, stop grumbling, stop crying. We are going to press on. We’ve got work to do, CBC.”

The 28-minute speech, with its overall theme of faith and perseverance through hard times, was meant to inspire the black-tie crowd, which included all 43 caucus members. Political leaders in attendance included Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Congressional Black Caucus chair Emanuel Cleaver, Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay and Urban League president Marc Morial.

Congresswoman Donna Edwards

greets Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and DNC Chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Dinner last Saturday night at the Washington Convention

(D-MD)

Center.

Photo by Fred Sweets

Urban League president Marc Morial, Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay(D-MO), Ms. Risse Walden and Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) enjoying a light moment following the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards dinner where President Barack Obama spoke.

Photo by Fred Sweets

Above: St. Louis American publisher and executive editor Donald M. Suggs greets Florida congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and St. Louis American contributing editor Fred Sweets at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix awards dinner. Photo by Tracie Pough

China Cargo Airlines lands inaugural flight

Mike Jones: ‘a culmination of a lot of work over an extended period of time’

By American staff

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

celebrated the inaugural flight of China Cargo Airlines on Friday, September 23. This was Lambert’s first all-cargo flight direct from China with the landing of a Boeing 777F. The new route will also be served by 747400F aircraft.

The aircraft landed with applause from more than 100 local, state, federal and international dignitaries. Awater cannon salute greeted the aircraft which was carrying between 80 and 100 tons of cargo including high-value Chinese manufactured goods. Outbound cargo was scheduled for an immediate return trip to Shanghai with a

load of cargo from the Midwest.

“Instead of being connected to the rest of country, we’re here connected to rest of the world,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay.

“We’re starting small, but together we can build something big.”

China Cargo, and parent company China

Eastern Airlines, signed a two-year lease for cargo space at Lambert. The current schedule will bring one flight a week from Shanghai to St. Louis. Chinese government and aviation leaders at the landing celebration expressed hope this service will grow immediately.

“One, two, three multi-air cargo hubs are not enough. We need more,” said Yang Guoqiang, Chinese Consul General, Chicago.

Income inequality explodes

More Americans slip below poverty line for third consecutive year

By Benjamin Ola.Akande

For The St.Louis American

They are here among us. They live next door; family members, friends and co-workers. You read about them and see them on TV. They are passed by on your way from work and can be even out of your way. They are men, women and children, a majority with minority opportunities representing the totality of the American racial, ethnic spectrum. According to a just releasedU.S.

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

Dr. Will Ross is the inaugural recipient of the Health Literacy Missouri Trailblazer Award. Dr. Ross will be honored at the 2nd annual Health Literacy Tribute Awards Luncheon on October 5 at the Palladium in St. Louis. As charter member of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission and cochair of the Health Literacy Task Force, Ross led the charge to make health literacy a priority in St. Louis and helped lay the foundation for the collaboration that resulted in Health Literacy Missouri.

Debra Denham has been elected Chairman of the Board of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Denham is Vice President of Community Affairs at BJC HealthCare; she serves as the system’s

“The championship is what we’re playing for – to reposition St.Louis as a vital commercial and cultural link to the rest of world and with China.”

– Mike Jones,Midwest China Hub Commission chair

“We need Lambert to be the new China Cargo hub.”

“Together we will nurture and grow this route. CAAC will render support in both

Investing in African agriculture

Danforth Center scientist leading Cassava Green Revolution in Nigeria

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

Africa’s food problems largely hinge on low agricultural productivity.

Dr.Martin Fregene

Recently, Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources Akin Adesina chose a St. Louis-based scientist to lead the Cassava Green Revolution for Nigeria.

Dr. Martin Fregene, director of BioCassava (BC) Plus at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, will serve as the minister’s special advisor and assist in getting six things right for the country’s agricultural revolution – improved technologies, policies, markets, political will, financing and infrastructure. Fregene began these duties on September 15 and will remain a co-principal investiga-

Fregene will work on improved technologies, policies, markets, political will, financing and infrastructure.

tor of BC Plus, sharing that role with Dr. Paul Anderson, executive director of international programs at the Danforth Center.

Total productivity of agriculture has been low in Sub-Saharan Africa.Between 1992 and 2003, total factor productivity in East Africa was a mere 0.4 percent, while West and Southern Africa averaged 0.6 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively. These rates do not keep up with the rate of population growth, and they call for greater investments to raise agricultural productivity, Fregene said.

“It is a privilege and honor for me to be invited by the Honourable Minister of

St. Louis Juvenile Court Judge Jimmie Edwards has been selected by the editors of People Magazine as a national finalist for the publication’s 2011 People Readers’Choice Hero campaign. Judge Edwards and his Innovative Concept Academy will be featured in the September 22nd issue of People Magazine. Providing strict discipline, counseling, creative programs and mandatory after-school activities, Innovative Concept Academy has changed the lives of many young people, giving them the opportunity to graduate from high school and lead successful lives.

METCentergets $1.7M federal grant forjob training

Last week U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (DMissouri) announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a $1.7 million grant to expand the Metropolitan Education and Training Center in Wellston.

“The $1.795 million investment by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Authority will allow the MET Center to expand classrooms and install a new wet lab to support job training in life sciences and biotechnology,” Clay said. The grant application was submitted by St. Louis County’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority.

Monsanto donates $500K to Central Library Project

Last week Monsanto Company announced a $500,000 gift to the St. Louis Public Library Foundation’s capital campaign to create the new Andrew Carnegie Room in the revitalized downtown central library. The capital campaign is a $20 million philanthropic effort to support the $70 million total restoration and revitalization of the main library. Alison Nichols Ferring and Thomas F. Schlafly serve as co-chairpersons. In 1901, industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated $500,000 for a downtown central library and $500,000 to build citywide branches.In today’s dollars, Carnegie’s gift would be worth $24.3 million.

Debra Denham

Officials celebrate the arrival of the first flight of China Cargo Airlines at Lambert-St.Louis International Airport in St.Louis on September 23.The flights will return to China with Missouri made goods.

Dr.Will Ross

Tracy Hall

Jimmie Edwards

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Benjamin Ola.Akande

Estate taxes. It’s not enough to simply know they exist, and to know strategies to minimize them. When it comes down to it, you need to plan how you and your family will eventually pay them. Estate taxes are generally due nine months after the date of death. And they are due in cash. In addition to estate taxes, there may be final expenses, probate costs, administrative fees, and a variety of other costs. How can you be sure the money will be there when it’s needed?

How will I pay estate taxes?

There are four main sources of funds to pay estate taxes. First, your current savings and investments. You or your survivors can use savings and investments to cover the costs of estate taxes, probate fees, and other expenses. This is often a sound alternative. However, sometimes savings and investments may not be sufficient. And if those savings were earmarked for other financial goals, you may need to rethink how you will achieve those goals. Another option would be to borrow the money. Unfortunately, with this option you not only have to pay the estate taxes, but you or your survivors will be forced to pay interest on the amount borrowed to pay estate taxes. Remember to consider how your family’s credit standing will be affected by a death in the family. The third option involves liquidation. If estate taxes are larger than the cash available

POVERTY

Continued from B1

Census Bureau report, more Americans fell below the poverty line last year.2011 marks the third year in a row that the rate has increased, growing in the past 12 months from 14.3 percent to 15.1 percent.Those numbers represent people, 46.2 million of them, who are considered in need.Alittle more than half of them (28 million) are working.But, they earn less $9.04 an hour/$18,800 a year, giving them an income that marks the federal poverty line for a family of four.

NIGERIA

Continued from B1

Agriculture to contribute to the long-awaited effort to rebuild Nigeria’s agricultural sector,” Fregene said.

Look around you.Chances are good you know them. Overall, 63 percent of all U.S. families below the federal poverty line have at least one member working trying to help make ends meet.They’re not just minorities.Nearly 60 percent are white.About onefifth of the working poor are foreign-born coming mostly from Mexico.And the majority possesses high school diplomas and even some college degrees. They are the reference point. They are the reason. They are the excuse to do or not to do, a constant calculus of social engineering. Without them, life would degenerate into a monotony robbed of

Fregene has 20 years experience working in South and North America, Asia and Africa to increase cassava productivity.

Fregene has been recognized for his extensive research focused on cassava improvement to fight ravages

By Charles Ross PERSONAL FINANCE

to pay them, you may have to sell valuable assets such as the family home, the family business, or other assets. Hopefully, they will sell for what they’re worth. In many cases, however, they don’t.

The fourth option — one that is often a prudent way to pay estate taxes — is life insurance. Life insurance can provide a timely death benefit, in cash, that can be used to pay estate taxes and other costs. And it

Charles Ross

will be paid directly to the beneficiary of the policy, without being subject to the time and expense of probate. Granted, life insurance does require premium payments. However, if appropriate to your situation, life insurance premiums can be looked at as a systematic way of funding future estate taxes. You get guaranteed liquidity and a death benefit that is generally free from federal income taxes.

competition to realize and nurture ambitions. Revolutionary rhetoric’s would have a hollow sound to them. Indeed, revolutionaries would be extinct by now. In reality, they make everything possible. They make us, and then make us better and bigger. There is no desire or ambition by society to end their long line, because ending their plight would scuttle human ambition. To save them is to disorganize natures’perfect

An explosion of income inequality means the distinction between the haves and have nots has grown to a dangerous level.

arrangement.Because we have done nothing, the last several decades has seen an unnatural shift in this pact.An explosion of income inequality means the distinction between the haves and have nots has grown to a dangerous level. Those on the bottom are struggling to move up the ladder. So they have been relegated to evasive vocabulary, colorful words and expressions to make them a lighter load on our conscience.In reality, a hard-

of viral diseases, micronutrient deficiency and increase productivity, via molecular breeding and biotechnology, and for his efforts to develop the biotechnology capacity of the National Root Research Institute (NCRCRI) in Nigeria. “We see this as a wonderful

opportunity for Dr. Fregene to employ his experience and capabilities to assist the Honourable Minister of Agriculture in his aggressive effort to revitalize the agricultural sector in Nigeria,” said Anderson.“The Danforth Center is proud to contribute to

Indeed, the financial protection provided by life insurance can be invaluable to those who have the burden of paying estate taxes — your loved ones. The cost and availability of life insurance depend on factors such as age, health, and the type and amount of insurance. Before implementing a strategy involving insurance, it would be prudent to make sure you are insurable. As with most financial decisions, there are expenses associated with the purchase of life insurance. Policies commonly have mortality and expense charges. In addition, if a policy is surrendered prematurely, there may be surrender charges and income tax implications. Any guarantees are contingent on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Before you take any specific action, be sure to seek professional advice. Coping with estate taxes may be a difficult proposition for you or your survivors. When it comes to paying them, consider life insurance. It may be a strategy worth considering, and overlooking it could be costly.

working single parent with two jobs trying to make ends meet and be a good parent is not a lighter load.The family whose main wage earner lost his or her job and now is in jeopardy of losing their home is not a lighter load.

The truth is history is a judgment passed when there is no chance for an appeal or the plea is offered from a position of powerlessness.At that point it becomes a rationalization that does not make sense as we observe the pervasiveness of suffering around us. The lack of empathy for others reflected in our policies and in our actions does not lead to a rational response.Those that we would prefer to ignore are

this effort through Dr. Fregene’s participation.”

More than 250 million subSaharan Africans rely on cassava as their major source of calories.Although it has many properties that make it an important food across much of Africa and Asia, it also has many limitations.Acassavabased diet does not provide complete nutrition and those who depend on cassava for food often suffer from chronic malnutrition, or insufficient intake of essential nutrients and vitamins including provitamin A, iron and protein.

In addition, Cassava is susceptible to many pathogens. Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) and Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) represent the most serious threats to cassava production in subSaharan Africa.Each year, CMD is responsible for a minimum of 30 percent losses of the harvest, and CBSD has

Charles Ross is host of the syndicated radio program “Your Personal Finance.” Contact him at P.O. Box 870928; Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087; or email to charles@ charlesross.com.

in our reality each and every day. They are the reason for the vitality and success of this nation because they labor hard in the vineyards of this economy invisible to so many of us. But the truth is they are us. We are so bound together that neither can labor alone. Each blow that we strike in our own behalf helps mold their universe to its detriment. They are poor and economically challenged. They are our reference point. They are the reason.

Akande is dean of the Walker School of Business & Technology at Webster University in St. Louis.

become an increasing threat in recent years. The Danforth Plant Science Center has been the lead on two major projects to address these challenges.BioCassava Plus is aimed at helping Africans avoid the devastating health consequences caused by micro nutrient malnutrition by delivering more nutritious, higher yielding, and more marketable cultivars of cassava.

The Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) project represents a collaboration between the Danforth Plant Science Center, the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) in Uganda and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute in Kenya to develop farmerpreferred cassava cultivars that are resistant to cassava virus diseases for delivery to African smallholder farmers thereby increasing root yields and food and economic security.

Clark-Atlanta running back Jonathan Johnson (#24) is stopped by Arkansas-Pine Bluff linebacker Chukwaso Oputa (#50) during last Saturday’s St.Louis Gateway Classic football game at the Edward Jones Dome. Arkansas-Pine Bluff edged Clark 9-7 for its third consecutive victory of the season.

Fox streams prep football

By Earl Austin Jr.

Of The St.Louis American

Weekly high school football coverage will be coming to Fox Sports-Midwest, beginning this week. The premiere of the Fox Sports Prep Zone begins with four high school football games being streamed live every Friday on FoxSportsMidwest.com. Games will be streamed on-line from around the Show-Me State as well as the Metro East. Locally, fans can watch the Kirkwood at Parkway Central and O’Fallon at East St. Louis games. There will also be a weekly 30-minute preview and highlights show entitled the Fox Sports Prep Zone will air on Wednesdays.

Hoyt’s Huskies

One of the emerging teams in the metro

The premiere of the Fox Sports Prep Zone begins with four high school football games being streamed live every Friday on FoxSportsMidwest.com.

area this season has been the Ritenour Huskies. Head coach Hoyt Gregory, a former Ritenour standout, has led his alma mater to a 5-0 start. The Huskies defeated Fort Zumwalt North 45-6 last Saturday in a battle of surprising undefeated teams at North. The Huskies are determined to prove themselves as a viable contender in the Suburban North Conference this season.

The Huskies field a solid team, but they are

anchored by a top-level lineman and an excellent dual-threat quarterback. Senior Edmund Ray is a 6’5” 295-pound tackle who has committed to the University of Missouri. Ray is the leader of Ritenour’s big and talented linemen. Quarterback Terrance Hollins-White has passed for 877 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Tailback Brandon Brown has rushed for 457 yards and seven touchdowns.

Receivers on the run

There are some pretty good wide receivers running around the STLthis season, and they are getting quite a bit of notice from the major colleges. Oklahoma-bound senior Durron Neal of DeSmet is at the top of the list, but there

See PREP, B5

Not feeling the Rams

Ricardo Rhodes rushed for 1,808 yards and scored a St.Louis area record 48 touchdowns in 1995 in leading the Spartans to the Class 5 state championship. Rhodes was named the St.Louis Post-Dispatch Player of the Year as well as the St.Louis American Male Athlete of the Year.

loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He told me that I should have not been so enamored with the 4-0 pre-season record. And I agreed. However, I wouldn’t quite say that I was enamored. I was trying to give the Rams the benefit of the doubt. For years, I ripped the Rams for buffoonery, ineptness and shenanigans. And it didn’t just happen on the field either. It was in the front office as well. When the Rams went undefeated in the exhibition season, I wasn’t the only person thinking positive thoughts about the Rams. Whether it was former Ram 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Marshall Faulk or Brian Burwell of the PostDispatch, we were all feeling the Rams.

My fellow colleague at The St. Louis American Mike Claiborne was right about some of us being a little too exuberant. I will say that I’m guilty as charged. It had been awhile since the Rams had strung any kind of positive winning streak together. It’s always easy to kick a team (like the Rams) when they’re down.

The first three losses of this new NFLseason have told me more than, they’re not ready. How and why is it that the Rams went 1-15 in 2009 and last year they were more competitive at 7-9 with less? They fought tooth and nail every game.

Cornerback

Injured cornerback Ron Bartell said before the season started that this was the best team he has ever been on. Uh, I wouldn’t go that far, my man. When Bartell became a Ram in 2005 there was guys like –Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Marshall Faulk, Steven Jackson, Orlando Pace, Leonard Little and Jeff Wilkins. What do they have in common? They went to a combined 30 pro bowls. It was a playoff-caliber roster, even with the Greatest Show on Turf winding down.

The team that Bartell is on now looks worse than it did before Steve Spagnuolo became head coach three years ago. And I see not one Pro Bowlcaliber player on this team at the moment. Not even quarterback Sam Bradford. How much longer are we going to wait on Chris Long? How long did it take for Donnie Avery? How about right tackle Jason Smith? Remember Jonathan Wade? Remember Jon Alston? He was a third-round pick 2007 and cut the next year. Wideouts Austin Pettis and Greg Salas are one and the same. Both have questionable hands, and they both have trouble getting open. Cornerback Justin King looked like an orange cone in the middle of a construction zone as Ravens wideout Torry Smith wore him out with three touchdown passes. It’s not as much the players’fault as it is the fault of the front office. Maybe that’s been Rams’ problem all along. And its time for a change. Tune in to

Photo by Maurice Meredith

Earl Austin Jr.

Palmer L. Alexander

Photo by Wiley Price

Baltimore’s Ray Lewis knocks the ball loose from Carnell Williams #33 of the St.Louis Rams during Sunday’s game at the Edward Jones Dome.

CLAIB’S CALL

With Mike Claiborne

NHLneeds more brains, less bananas

I must say that I am not surprised by what happened in a preseason game that involved two teams from the National Hockey League last week. The Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers were in a heated game that saw the usual – fights, jawing at each other and, yes, more fights. Not surprised at all. That’s hockey, right?

The Flyers have a black player on their roster, Wayne Simmonds. Never mind how good he is, just for the time being know that he is black. During one of the fracases, not only were there sticks and gloves all over the ice, someone in the stands thought enough to stop off at the produce section at his local grocer and make a purchase. A banana. Not for his own consumption to enhance his potassium level, but as a social reminder. Some mentally short individual decided to throw it onto the ice

where, you guessed it, Wayne Simmonds happened to be. Nothing was done, as it was attributed to some mean-spirited fan. That’s hockey, right? Yes, it’s hockey and only hockey, as there are plenty of black players in the NBAand the NFLyou could hurl fruit at, but I guess when the numbers are small those who show such little brains and courage feel comfortable.

Here is where it really gets off course. Aplayer who was in the scrum on the ice has come out and said Wayne Simmonds used a homophobic slur toward him in the height of emotion during the game. Simmonds says he does not recall it, but “a lot of things are said on the ice.” This is now the story. While

using a homophobic slur should not be condoned any time, it is amazing that the media has turned their attention to who said what and not who threw the fruit with racist connotations.

Sean Avery, who made the allegation against Simmonds, was accused of using a racial slur towards a black player a few years ago. Since his sexuality has been questioned by some recently he has his own battles to wage, and I guess he either needed attention or company.

I am sure that you can ask Wayne Simmonds and players of his color, now and in the past, what things they have heard on the ice from their brethren and fans. Mr. Avery’s claims would not fall on deaf ears, but certainly would take a few places back in the complaint line.

This is the United States of America in an era of a black president and those who would see the country suffer in order to make him a one-term guy. We still have the age-old issue of the mentally challenged who would like to be seen or heard. They have now been heard, seldom seen, and yet nothing is never done about it by those who could do something.

As for the NHL, they have been more proactive about the game’s image than you would think and they are trying to do the right thing. This issue is one they have to get their arms around, and quick. For the most part, they have made an effort to nip these things in the bud, it’s just unfortunate they cater to those who are shorter on brains than bananas

What about the people who were sitting around the person who thought it was a good idea to throw the banana at the black man in the first place? Why can’t one of them come forward?

How about the lack of media coverage? With media attention, maybe we could get to the bottom of the matter and find out who did it and why.

But they would rather talk conference realignment and should we have a playoff in college football. You know, the stuff that has nothing to do with

reality when it comes to what a player like Wayne Simmonds and others like him have to deal with.

Mike Claiborne

The Philadelphia Flyers’Wayne Simmonds was the target of a racial gesture by a fan in Detroit recently when a banana was thrown on the ice.

Moore voted MVP

Adrian Moore breaks away from the Atlanta defense.Moore was voted the MVP of the Gateway Classic game after rushing for 155 yards in Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 9-7 victory.

On tap this weekend

PREP

are more talented receivers.

Two of them will be on display on Friday night at Parkway Central as Kirkwood pays a visit. Parkway Central is led by the outstanding Brandon Sheperd, who is being recruited pretty heavily. Kirkwood has a big-play receiver of its own in senior Mike McHugh, who has committed to Northwestern. Ladue has an excellent wide-out in 6’4” senior Jehu Chesson, who is capable of many big plays. Acouple of senior athletes who are also making waves as wideouts are Paul McRoberts of Soldan and Alex Henry of University City. Both have been exciting performers this season.

RHODES

Continued from B3

Continued from B3 baseball team, the Florissant Trojans. We were one of the top teams in the city back in the day.

Ricardo was our lead-off hitter and centerfielder. And, boy he could scoot. Because of his great speed, I gave him the nickname “Wheels.” Ricardo used to beat out hard two-hoppers to second base for infield hit. He was part of a trio of players that included my brother Richard and a kid named Eddie Mackey. All three were little “five-tool players” who could do it all on the baseball diamond. My father used to call them, “Little and Lethal.”

As good as Ricardo was in baseball, it was football that he loved. I could not wait until he got to high school to watch him play for Hazelwood East. When he arrived, he spent the

Kirkwood (4-0) at Parkway Central (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m. –ASuburban South battle between two undefeated powerhouse teams. The game features big-play receivers in Mike McHugh of Kirkwood and Brandon Shepard of Parkway Central.

O’Fallon (5-0) at East St. Louis (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m. –The undefeated Panthers will try to take control of the Southwestern Conference while the young Flyers will try to stay in the conference race. O’Fallon has been dominant this year behind tailback Ejay Johnson while East Side is led by quarterback Lamontiez Ivy. Hazelwood East (3-2) at McCluer North (4-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. – Abig Suburban North Conference showdown. McCluer North has

first few weeks on the freshman team. That was unfair as he scored just about any time he touched the ball.

I remember when his father called my father and told him that Ricardo got the call up to the varsity midway through his freshman season. This was one game that we weren’t going to

Not Ricardo, he’d rather run straight through you.

miss. Ricardo put on a show in his first varsity game against Normandy. He rushed for something like 133 yards and scored three touchdowns. It was only the beginning. For the next four years, Ricardo became one of the top running backs in the state of Missouri. The little guy was a beast. What amazed people the most was that he would rather run over people that run

won four consecutive games after their opening-season loss to Jefferson City. Quarterbacks Trey Hill of East and Galen Brown of McCluer North are ones to watch.

Eureka (4-1) at Lindbergh (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m. – Abig Suburban West Conference battle between two teams that are trying to keep pace with Lafayette in the league race.

St. Genevieve (3-2) at John Burroughs (4-1), Saturday, 2 p.m. – John Burroughs is stepping out of conference to take on a good St. Gen. Team. Burroughs is coming off a big ABC League victory over Lutheran North.

(You can catch Earl Austin Jr. on KTVI-Fox 2 on the Friday Night Prep Zone with Maurice Drummond at 10:20 p.m. The show also airs on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m.).

around them, which is what you would normally see from such a diminutive back. Not Ricardo, he’d rather run straight through you.

The 1995 season was one for the ages for Ricardo. He rushed for 1,808 yards and scored a St. Louis area record 48 touchdowns in leading the Spartans to the Class 5 state championship. In the statechampionship game, he rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Spartans to a 42-3 victory over Blue Springs South. Ricardo finished his career with 4,586 yards and 72 touchdowns.

Ricardo reaped a ton of post-season honors, including St. Louis Post-Dispatch Player of the Year. He was also named the St. Louis American Male Athlete of the Year in 1996. He went on to play for the University of Missouri where he enjoyed success as a kick return specialist.

Photo by Maurice Meredith

New AT&Twebsite showcases network enhancements

In response to customer feedback, AT&Tis offering St. Louis area consumers a unique peek behind the curtain of AT&T’s wireless network enhancements. An industry first, the website, http://focus.att.com/stl, gives customers an unparalleled view of what AT&Tis doing to enhance the customer experience.

Visitors to the new “Focus: St. Louis” microsite immediately view a map of the St. Louis area, and are prompted to select the community they’re most interested in. The hyper-local map displays specific network enhancements that AT&Thas made in the area since the beginning of 2011. Enhancements include new cell sites, broadband speed upgrades, capacity upgrades and network connection upgrades.

In the St. Louis area, year

CHINA

Continued from B1 policy and financial gain for this route,” said Xia Xinghua, Vice Minister of the CAAC. Mike Jones, The new service is the culmination of several years of negotiations betweenChina, China Cargo Airlines and the Midwest China Hub Commission, acoalition of private business associations and governmental groups in Missouri chaired by Mike Jones, senior police advisor for County Executive Charlie A. Dooley.Airport Terminal Services in partnership with Worldwide Flight Services has won the aircraft ground handling and cargo warehouse handling contract for China Cargo Airlines.

“While today is an impor-

to date through August 31, 2011, AT&Thas:

• Built six new cell sites, providing more bars in the area.

• Upgraded eight cell sites, providing faster mobile broadband speeds.

• Added 246 carriers to increase spectrum on area cell sites, providing extra capacity to reduce dropped calls and improve service quality at busy times.

• Expanded 368 network connections with fiber lines at area cell sites, helping reduce dropped calls and enable 4G data speeds for compatible devices.

Above the map, a “Stores” tab provides visitors mapped locations and phone numbers for AT&Tstores in their area, and a “Wi-Fi Hotspots” tab shows Wi-Fi locations, right down to the local coffee shop.

In addition, AT&Thas created a dedicated Twitter handle that visitors can follow for upto-date information on what is going on in the St. Louis area. Tweets from the @ATT_STL handle are featured on the microsite.

The microsite also includes a “Did You Know?” section that provides helpful tips and suggestions for smartphone users. These tips include advice on how to extend the battery life of devices, how to manage data consumption more efficiently and much more. Third-party device reviews as well as reviews by AT&Twill also be featured in this section.

All of these sections will be updated every Thursday, helping AT&Tconnect with its St. Louis area customers on a more personal, hyper-local level.

tant and potentially historic day we should be pleased about because it’s a culmination of a lot of work over an extended period of time by a lot of people who formed an effective coalition, it’s really just the beginning, not the end of this process,” Jones, commission chair, told The

American.

“All we did was win the first game of the NCAAtournament. We’ve got a long way to go to win the championship, and the championship is what we’re playing for – to reposition St. Louis as a vital commercial and cultural link to the rest of world and with China.”

Pilots of the first China Cargo Airlines Boeing 777 that landed at Lambert -St.Louis International Airport hold flowers presented to them during a ceremony.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Smart Setters celebrated Summer’s End at the well-appointed west county home of Deborah and Oscar Berryman (Monsanto) on Sunday, September 18. The Berryman’s love to entertain, and guests enjoyed a plentiful buffet provided by Mary Hayes’ Diamond Catering, great company and spectator sports. Many shared summer vacation stories and, in spite of the rain that kept the pool area closed, a good time was had by all. The party was co-chaired by charter members

“Sugar” Smith, Lynn

, Tanya Kennedy, Nat and Sandra

and

,

Clements, Tracy and Tom Shepard and Lauren

Ming Alisa Owens Moore DDS. of It’s a Small World Children’s Dentistry in Atlanta was recently named as one of the Atlanta area’s top pedodontists. Alisa and her team were sited in Lifestyles Magazine 2011 List of Top Dentists. Alisa’s Mom Odessa Clark Owens is proud of her second nomination to this category. Alisa is also excited about son Christopher’s appear-

The great pretenders

The lies we tell about (and to) ourselves for love

By Kenya Vaughn Of The

I was at an event last week talking with a couple of people, one person I knew and the other I didn’t. The woman I met introduced herself by saying, “Nice to meet you. I’m in corporate communications for _____ (company omitted to protect the guilty).”

As we continued with an interesting chat about this and that, a person whom I know but neither of the other ladies knew came up to me to say long time no see.

Before I could even open my mouth, the extremely polished stranger extended her hand to the person I know and repeated the spill word for word.

The problem is this: the woman with whom this lady was assertively offering her introductory executive irm-grip handshake just so happened to be director of corporate communications for the company that this woman had so proudly boasted of belonging to.

“Actually, I work in customer service, but I have a degree in corporate communications,” was what the woman said after my acquaintance excused herself from the conversation. Nice save, girl.

I know what you are thinking, at this point … what does this obnoxiously long intro have to do with black and single?

EVERYTHING.

How many of us make go hard with putting our best foot forward as we make our rounds during the introductory rounds of the dating game –knowing that some of our sales pitch is attached to a wooden leg?

You serve up the best version of yourself to the prospective man or woman of your dreams, but by the time you’re done doctoring yourself up (in some cases, literally, thanks to advances in online degrees) your story is more “inspired by true events” than your autobiography. What? You know it’s true.

We temporarily become this, that and the other to make ourselves appear more eligible. We operate in inlated positions, salaries, family backgrounds and zip codes. Some of

Hawaii. In his talk, Marshall discussed his recent departure into the mono print process – which he previously had dismissed as “a poor substitute for painting” – after seeing the sculptor Albert Paley’s use of stencils during his residency at the University of Hawaii–Hilo. “It was fresh, necessary and correct,” Marshall said he concluded of these techniques.

Dana G. Randolph

My cousin Bert Coleman, a retired Broadway actor and activist, received

Hosts CeCe Winans and Donald Lawrence Marvin Sapp

Winners of the Small Choir Division and People Choice Award, The Voices Of Life

Photos by Wiley Price

Dorinda Clark-Cole

SOUND, C5

1.Email

concerts

Thurs., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m., Uplifting rapper Lupe Fiasco brings a collection of alternative hip-hop hits to Chaifetz Arena. Tickets go on-sale on Thursday, September 1 at 10 a.m.at MetroTix.com, charge by phone at 314-534-1111 and the Chaifetz Arena Box Office.

Fri., Sept. 30, Jazz St. Louis presents Fusion jazz featuring Zeb Briskovich, Adaron “Pops” Jackson, Jason Swagler, Rick Haydon, and Miles Vandiver, Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave. For more information, call (314) 534 -1111 or visit www.metrotix.com.

Sun., Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m., Jazz St. Louis presents George Benson, Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., UMSL. For more information, visit www.touhill.org

Oct. 5, Jazz St. Louis presents the Stanley Jordan Trio, Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave. For more information, call (314) 5341111 or visit www.metrotix.com

Oct. 6- Oct. 8, Gentleman Jack & Leisure Studies presents the inaugural Lola STL Music Fest, over three days Lola will host the best regional and national funk, soul, hip hop artists with special bites and drinks for the new annual event with guests that include Diamond D and Fatlip of Pharcyde and Van Hunt. Lola.

For more information visit www. welovelola.com

Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Scream Tour 10th Anniversary starring Mindless Behaviorand Diggy Simmons with special guests The New Boyz, Jacob Latimore, Hamilton Park and introducing the OMG Girlz, The Fox Theatre. Tickets on sale Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Sun., Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m., The Royal Vagabonds Foundation presents Lynne Fiddmont featuring jazz saxophonist Keith Fiddmont, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Ave. For more information, call (314) 7273951 or (314) 991-1755.

Tues., Oct. 25, 8 p.m. (7 p.m. doors) The Smokers Club Tourstarring Currency, Method Man and Big K.R.I.T., The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com

Wed., Oct. 26, 8 p.m. (7 p.m. doors), Marsha Ambrosius with special guest Miguel, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com

local gigs

Oct. 1, 5 p.m., “Billie Holiday & Nina Simone Meet” starring Jeanne Trevor& Wendy Gordon, Robbie’s House of Jazz #20 Allen Ave., Webster Groves

CALENDAR

MO 63119.

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

Thurs., Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Urban Artist Alliance for Child Development AllWhite Party Benefit with performances by Stallings,

Fairview Heights, IL. For more information, call (314) 2411143 or visit www.stlouismsdc.org

Thurs., Oct. 6, 5 p.m., 10th Street Gallery Grand Opening Celebration featuring Solomon Thurman, Lance OmarThurman, Chris Ananda, C’babi Bayoc, Katherine Chiekh, Kerry Gillen, Linda D. Jones, and Gary Meier. 419 N. 10th Street. To learn more, call 314974-6058 or email for more information. Info@10thStreetGallery.com

Through Oct. 7, In celebration of the festival’s 20th year in St. Louis, Grand Center Inc. is seeking local and regional talent forFIRST NIGHT- St. Louis, a New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts that calls on artists of every medium to be the catalysts in creating a shared cultural celebration. For questions or to speak with a member of the First Night staff, please call Travis Howser at 314-2891507 (email travis@grandcenter.org).

Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys away game road trip. Trip includes ride on a party bus and two night deluxe hotel stay. For more information, call (314) 779-7655 or (314) 229-5267.

Oct. 28 – 30, Extraordinary Events Presents its 2nd Annual Ladies Spa Retreat Weekend To Hot Springs, Arkansas. Call 314-219-4188 for more info or register online at www.sparetreatweekend. eventbrite.com.

Oct. 29, 9 p.m., Baddgirls ENTPresents TheirAnnual Halloween Masquerade Ball with lots of ghostly beauties & goblin goons. Featuring best male & female costume contest.Costumes encouraged. Legit Banquet Facilities, 6324 W.Florissant Ave at Goodfellow.

Nov. 12, 6 p.m., Harvest Ball, an evening of dinner, dancing and delight foradults with developmental disabilities, City Hall Rotunda. Call (314) 421-0090.

Knowledge, Xplicit, Fior Baptiste and more! For more information, e-mail keyamurdock@yahoo.com

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

Fri., Sept. 30, 7 p.m., The 2nd Annual Inspire: A Fusion of Fashion and Culture, Chase Park Plaza. Formore information call (314) Oct. 1, 6 p.m., HarrisStowe State University Alumni Association presents Glitz, Glamourand Giving: ATribute to Dr. Henry Givens Jr., Landmark Ballroom, Renaissance Grand Hotel. For more information, call (314) 3390.

Sat., Oct. 1, 10 a.m., City Seeds Urban Farm Field Day—Farm Tours, Food Tastings, Fun Activities & Live Music! Gateway Greening along with St. Patrick’s Center, Food Outreach and Operation Food Search are celebrating and spreading the word about fresh food with the City Seeds Urban Farm Field Day. All are welcome to stop by the City Seeds Urban Farm rain or shine to learn more about urban farming, sustainable agriculture, the green industry and therapeutic horticulture with guided tours of the farm every hour on the hour. City Seeds Urban Farm, 2200 Pine St.

Mon., Oct. 3, St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council 17th Annual Golf Classic featuring NFLgreats Jackie Smith, Mel Gray, Gus Otto, Howard Richards, Eddie Moss and more. Stonewolf Golf Course,

Sat., Oct. 8, 10 a.m., KlasAct Corvette Club 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, Emerald Greens Golf Course. Registration at 10 am, Shotgun start at 12PM, four person scramble. Award dinner at 4pm. Proceeds benefit Thanksgiving and Christmas food drive. For more information, call 314-210-4272 or 314-691-5479.

Sun., Oct. 9, 2 p.m., Our Second Act Incorporated fundraiser starring Kim Massie, the Diva of blues, soul and R& B, Coco Soul and D.J.Mr. We, Robert Probstein Golf and Tennis Club House in Forest Park. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support scholarships for women over the age of 55. For more information, call (314) 875-9932.

Sun., Oct. 9, 6 p.m. doors, J.L.R.W. presents Body Blast, Club Illusion, 526 E. Broadway, East St. Louis, IL. Sat., Oct. 15, 9 a.m., City North Y’s Men and Women Club All You Can Eat Breakfast, To Support Y’s Men’s International Projects, Monsanto Family YMCA, 5555 Page Blvd.

Tues., Oct. 18, 7 p.m., The internationally known St. Olaf Orchestra from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., will perform at Manchester United Methodist Church . Additional tour ticket information can be found at stolaftickets.com

Sat., Oct. 22, 6 p.m. Coalition of Black Trade Unionists twenty-fifth Annual Ernest and De Verne Calloway Awards Banquet, This year’s awardees are Vivian Martain, Director of the Construction Prep Center (CPC) and Roy Gillespie, Human Rights Commissioner for Teamsters Join Council 13.Renaissance Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Ave.

Oct. 23 – Oct. 23, Dontuwannago.com presents

Niecy’s Network Showcase, The showcase provides a spot for talent to shine! Fridays 8pm Klmaxx Room inside the Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Road call (314)337-8087.

comedy

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

Dec. 31, 8 p.m., New Year’s Eve Homecoming Comedy Jam Cedric The Entertainer Live featuring Malik S. Peabody Opera House. Visit www.ticketmaster.com

literary

Oct. 1, 1 p.m., Olivia Longstreet

Gentleman Jack & Leisure Studies presents the inaugural Lola STL Music Fest featuring Van Hunt.For more information,see Concerts.

David E. Talbert brings his newest stage production “What My Husband Doesn’t Know” to the Fabulous Fox Theatre. 314/534-1111. Order tickets online at www.metrotix.com.

arts

Through October7, Ronald Herd II: The Most Known Unknown Nu-Art Series’ Metropolitan Gallery, 2936 Locust Blvd., St Louis, MO, 63103. For more information, call (314) 535-6500.

October14, 7 p.m., Opening reception for Eric Nichols- A Solo Exhibition, Aisle 1 Gallery, 2627 Cherokee Street, 63118, just one block west of Jefferson. For more information, visit www.aisle1gallery.com

October15 – October16, 14th annual ARTEASTStudio & Exhibits Tour featuring the work of 100 local artists in The Alton-Edwardsville , Tour maps with a complete listing of ARTEASTlocations, participating artists and their artwork are available online at www.arteasttour.com

Through January 8 PPRC Photography Project: Pais Youth Development Center The colorful exhibit will be on display through Jan. 8 at the PPRC Photography Gallery in 427 Social Sciences and Business Building at UMSL, 1 University Blvd. in St. Louis County (63121). Gallery hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Aduplicate of the exhibit will be on display through Jan. 8 in the northwest hallway at the Victor Roberts Building, 1354 N. Kingshighway Blvd. in St. Lous (63113). The exhibit can be viewed from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.An opening reception will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Victor Roberts Building.

lectures

Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Grace Hill Women’s Business Center

10-week Business Development Class, Room 350, Washington University West Campus, 7425 Forsyth Blvd. To register, call (314) 584-6840.

Sept. 29, 6 p.m., St. Louis City Children’s Division presents a Foster/Adopt Informational Meeting, Julia Davis Branch Library. For more information, call (314)340-7536.

Thurs., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m., Introduction to Tarot Reading, This four week class on Tarot divination will teach you how to give yourself, family and friends comprehensive readings using tarot cards. InPower Institute. For more information, visit http://inpowerinstitute.com

Through Oct.8, High school students who plan to pursue higher education can get a head start by attending a workshop at six St. Louis County Library branches. For more information and to register for one of the workshops, please call 314 994-3300.

Sat., Oct. 8, 10 a.m., Rep. Rochele Walton Gray hosts a Workshop To Discuss The U.S. Healthcare Bill, The U.S. Debt Ceiling Bill and Workforce Development Trinity Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 11755 Mehl Ave. For more information please contact the District office at: (314) 388-5849.

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

Sat., Oct. 8, 10 a.m., No Mo’ Bullying Workshop, This workshop is designed to illustrate strategies and methods that would enable young people to gain proper tools to halt or deter bullying of all kinds. The panel will serve as our

professional experts drawing from clinical and professional experience to provide wisdom, advice, and hope to alleviate the pervasive bullying behaviors, as it relates to our youth. Christ the King United Church of Christ, 11370 Old Halls Ferry Road.

Oct. 10, 10 a.m., Design Essentials Interactive Education At It’s Best for Professional Stylist offering color therapy, trend cuts 2011, natural styles, & classic glamour. Lunch will be provided, 6 ceu hours, & product discounts. Respond by October 1st for early bird special. Holiday Inn Select Downtown, 811 N. 9th St.

Oct. 13, 8 p.m., St. Louis Microfinance: Gateway to Opportunities conference Conference will bring together international and national microfinance experts with local practitioners to showcase innovative and practical uses of microfinance tools to assist low-income families and communities in the St. Louis area. J.C. Penney Conference

Center, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121. For more information, call (314) 516-6590. Seating is limited so early reservations are encouraged.

health

Sat., Oct. 8, The St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program (HELP) will be holding an area-wide Equipment Drive, St. Louis HELPreceives donations of new or previously owned medical devices from the community.The items are cleaned, refurbished, and loaned to individuals in need, at no cost. Clean the attic, garage or basement and make a taxdeductible donation of medical equipment at one of the following drop off locations:

Road, 63126

Richmond Center - 6600 Clayton Road, 63117 Ladue Crossing - 8867 Ladue Road, 63124

Hampton Village - 60 Hampton Village Plaza, 63109

Dierbergs: Florissant - 222 North Highway 67, 63031 Manchester - 421 Lafayette Center, 63011 Lemay Plaza - 2516 Lemay Ferry Road, 63125 Telegraph Plaza - 5640 Telegraph Road, 63129

Or: St. Louis HELP’s Warehouse, 9709 Dielman Rock Island Drive, Olivette, MO, 63132 For more information, call (314) 567-4700 or visit www.stlhelp.org

Oct. 1 ,Majic 104.9 and Hallelujah 1600 present the 2nd Annual Sista Strut 3K Breast CancerWalk. Forest Park. For more information on the 2nd Annual Sista Strut 3K Breast Cancer Walk or to register online, visit www.sistastrutstl.com or www.kmjm.com. To volunteer contact Melanie Powell-Robinson, 2011 Sista Strut Committee Chair at sistastrutstl@gmail.com

Sat., Oct. 1, 9 a.m., Women’s CancerAwareness Luncheon - Bowling OverCancer, Christian Hospital Atrium, 11133 Dunn Rd. Paul F. Detrick Bldg. Please call to register. Space is limited. 314747-WELL, or 1-877-747WELL.

Tennis Center in Forest Park. Entertainment, open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auction. For more information, visit www.stlconnectcare.org

Sat., Oct. 15, 1 p.m., Autism Speaks hosts 9th Annual Walk ForAutism Research, Forest Park. For more information, call 314-721-2828 or 314-989-1003

Thurs., Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Episcopal City Mission Gala Fundraiser“Moment in Time,” Crowne Plaza Hotel, Clayton, MO. Episcopal City Mission is a nonprofit that funds the presence of chaplains in the juvenile detention centers in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-4363545 or visit www.ecitymission.org

Oct. 23, 10:30 a.m., Women’s Initiative 2011 Women’s Day Guest Speaker-Dr. Valerie Walker, Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 1617 North Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63113. For more information, call (314) 3618893. Jazz St.Louis presents George Benson at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.See CONCERTS for details

Schnucks: Zumbehl Road, St. Charles1950 Zumbehl Rd, 63303 O’Fallon, MO - 8660 Veterans Parkway, 63366 Edwardsville, IL- 2222 Troy Road, 62025 Crestwood - 9540 Watson

Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m., Forest Park CenterforFamily Resources, a Every Step Counts and St. Louis Family Council partnership) will host a workshop “I Know the Signsof Abuse” with Molina Healthcare on the campus of St. Louis CommunityCollege at Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Avenue (Student Center) For more information, call 314644-9067.

Oct. 14 6 p.m., The St. Louis ConnectCare cocktail party fundraiser, Highlands Golf &

Oct. 14, Christian Care Fellowship Church Anniversary Celebration, A three day celebration beginning with Friday evening service at 7:00 p.m.,luncheon-dinner and entertainment social Saturday afternoon from 1-8 p.m.and ending with a tributeto Pastor Ernest A. Jackson and First Lady Carol A. Jackson, Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Christian Care Fellowship Church , 4202 Folsom Ave. For more information, visit www.christiancarefellowship.org

Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m., Women’s Initiative 2011 Worship Through Prayer, Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 1617 North Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63113. For more information, call (314) 361-8893.

from C1

ance on NBC’s Sing Off airing Monday nights. Christopher Moore, a Dartmouth College sophomore is a member of the school’s a cappella choir, The Dartmouth Aires One Voice for Equality is the theme the the 19th annual HRC (Human Rights Campaign) Gala and Dinner. The affair was held at the Hyatt Riverfront on September 17, 2001. So proud of my cousin Bert Coleman, the recipient of the organizations top honor, The Equality Award. Bert was honored for his contributions to the organization as a working team member, former dinner chair and as one of the original St. Louis HRC organizers. Bert is a retired Broadway actor who appeared in Godspell HAIR and Jesus Christ Superstar who later worked in the music industry. He is happy to be in St. Louis with family after life on the East and West coasts as a music executive. The vent décor was fabulous. Everyone enjoyed the silent and live auctions that included a VIP trip for four to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade donated by Macy’s, Southwest Airlines and Hyatt Hotels, a week in Playa Del Carmen donated by American Airlines and Terry Crow and Tom Peters, an Aspen/ Snowmass Food and Wine Getaway donated by Diane Butrus and Southwest Airlines

Alisa Owens Moore DDS of It’s a Small World Children’s Dentistry in Atlanta was recently named as one of the Atlanta area’s top pedodontists.

and a private dinner party to be hosted by Bill Donius and Jay Perez. Bert was proud to have Mom Charlesetta Coleman (retired SLPS and Maplewood Richmond Heights educator), country music singer Brett Daniels De Kaplan and Stellie Siteman (Max and Louie Productions), Bernard and Billie Jean Randolph Bernard Randolph Jr., Carrie Houk and iancé David Wilson as his VIP guests. Stephen Gray and Dre Broussard said the 13 Black Katz event at Kemoll’s on September 5 was a huge success. Labor Day party people couldn’t say enough about the spectacular view, dance hall music by DJ Big Hurt, great crowd and delicious food. Popping between the 40th

and 42nd loors at the Labor Day gathering were Mike Anderson, Erroll Colvin, Derrick Dunn Henry Kerr Annette Basey, Alyson Singield, Rodney Ware in from Chicago, Sheryl Gates Karla Radford, Kim Radford and Andrea Topps More Labor Day news. Tyrone and Michelle Wilson Clements came to town for the Clements’ family reunion. Tyrone and Michelle have settled in in Houston but miss their St. Louis family and friends. Children Taylor and Myles had a grand time at the family’s holiday gatherings. The kids impressed their cousins with newly acquired Spanish language skills.

Tyrone says his new business venture Family First Consultants, LLC is off to a successful start.

Congratulations to Brian and Dannielle Welch-Benson (Dankar Enterprises) on the birth of son Blake - September 7, 2011. Big brother Bryce is very excited about his new baby brother who weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz., 21inches. If you missed the “don’t miss” I AM – The African American Imprint exhibit at the Missouri History Museum that ended September 25, you’re in luck. The informative and impressive exhibit is on its way to Kansas City, Missouri’s Union Station. Kansas City will host the exhibit October 22, 2011 –January 8, 2012 Have a great weekend! Dana Grace: dgrandolph@ live.com.

Continued from C1

Once he set to work making prints himself, Marshall found himself working in marathon, half-day sessions with a small group of students. “I attempt to develop the composition from all directions,” he said. And he does so with any material at hand. Marshall talked at length about discovering a promising new printmaking material in the carpet runner. At one point, he took a pair of nail clippers to snip off the nub of a carpet runner, leaving a hole in the material that then changed the effect of the print he was making. Thinking about his art in such homely, technical terms made for a fresh look at the mono prints on display at Atrium Gallery. #5 could be a page torn from a child’s picture book about a whale at sea, but what looks like a deliberately formed whale eye actually started as a dot left by that hole Marshall accidentally made in the carpet runner with his nail clippers. Yet this new work stems from a deeply personal source as well as a collision with new materials and techniques. Marshall spoke of the shock of losing his colleague in the Hilo Art Department, the printmaker Wayne Miyamoto, on Feb. 20, 2010. “The whole department went into a tailspin,” Marshall said. “It really wasn’t clear we were going to survive. It’s a small department, in such

SINGLE

Continued from C1

us even lie about our church attendance when a man says he wants a “godly woman.” What irony!

But when the newness of the relationship washes away, we discover that we are more “stranger danger” than “power couple.”

And this bait and switch goes beyond the “little white lies” we tell for the sake of inding love.

a fragile economy.” But he decided the department would survive. “I understood we had to do everything we were doing, and more.” After seeing Paley work, that “more” became this new, inspired mono print project.

The work itself is varied and stunning. #49 evokes a Cubist portrait of a man smoking a pipe mostly in stark black and white. #47 mashes up European traditions of harlequin paintings with African igural forms in Halloween colors. #59 is a mauve meditation on cantilevered mechanical forms and four-legged animals with long necks. Others – #32, #33 and #34, which look good as a series – seem to partake more of the pure joy of playing with abstracted shapes and contrasting colors.

John Schwartzkopf’s talk

We also – and by “we,” I mean me – pretend that we are more willing to put up with certain shortcomings and less than stellar behavior patterns than we really are to give ourselves a competitive edge.

“Oh yeah, I’m cool with casual sex and open relationships … for me, it’s whatever,” you say in response to his notion of “a paradigm shift in the Eurocentric monogamous relationship patterns that go against every iber in the black man’s being.”

But yet you check his phone,

Michael Marshall Mono Prints will be up at the Atrium Gallery, 4728 McPherson Ave, through October 22.

was a pleasant complement to Marshall’s remarks. The sculptor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa described his process as very akin to the multi-layered, improvisational technique at play in Marshall’s marathon printmaking sessions. “I start and work and evolve as I go,” Schwartzkopf said. His approach to materials, like Marshall’s, is opportunistic and improvisational. He talked about inheriting discarded pieces of wood because “they are twisted, crooked and have a big knot in them.” He smiled and said, “That’s exactly what I’m interested in!” New Studio Works: Michael Marshall Mono Prints + John Schwartzkopf Sculptures will be up at the Atrium Gallery, 4728 McPherson Ave, through October 22. Call 314-3671076 or visit www.atriumgallery.net.

and do ride-bys and other actions that warrant a restraining order to stay on top of his sideline activity – and eventually attempt to sell yourself as his main boo thang once it gets serious for you. You say you don’t mind if he partakes in – let’s just say recreational mind-altering substances – but you secretly plot calling the DEA on his “hookup” to scare him out of his habit. I think plenty of us think adding a few little things about ourselves and subtracting the negatives we see early in the game will balance out. WRONG.

I’m saying be your best you, but make sure that you are true and not playing the lead role in your developing romantic dramady. We’ve all seen those movies and they rarely have a happy ending. Chances are the inal scene will play out the way it did with the woman I kicked this notion off with. With the person she ultimately desired to impress saying, “Oh, okay … and your name is (translation: “who are you” with a side of “we both know I caught you in a lie, but I’m going to be polite”) – well, it was nice meeting you. Goodbye.”

SOUND

“This is my first year and I really love it,” said Caesar. “When the pastors pull together, they bring all of their members, and then the members bring their friends, it’s easy to come into a building of this magnitude. Why? They all want to see their choirs shine.”

And all eight choirs shined brightly on the big stage, but none brighter than the Metropolitan Coummunity Church of Greater St. Louis Choir and the Voices of Life from the Life Center International Church of God in Christ in St. Louis. Voices of Life won the Small Choir competition for the second consecutive year and earned a total of $15,000 in prize money.

The big winners of the night were the Metropolitan Community Church Choir, who won the Large Choir competition and the Overall Choir title as well. They received $10,000 for winning the large choir competition. As the overall winner of the St. Louis Region, they will also represent St. Louis at the How Sweet the Sound national competition in Los Angeles on October 28.

“This is truly amazing,” said choir director Jerry Smith. “I am still stunned. I can’t believe it to be honest.”

As the last of the eight choirs to take the stage, the Metropolitan Community Church choir performed a stirring rendition of Kurt Carr’s Psalm 68: Let our God Arise. It was the choir’s third consecutive year in the How Sweet the Sound competition and the third time proved to be the charm as they took home the big check and earned a trip to L.A.

“This was our third time and each time we learned something,” Smith said. “We have grown and we gave it our all, 100 percent. We are different choir that we were three years ago. We are a more disciplined choir. It has just been great for all of us.”

The Metropolitan Community Church Choir really stood out because it was also the most diverse group of people at the competition. Different races, nationalities and age groups were represented in the 53-member choir; which was not lost on the three judges. It prompted Marvin Sapp to say, “This is what heaven is supposed to be like.” The crowd rose to its feet.

“To have Marvin Sapp say that about us was awesome,” Smith said. “It’s what our church is all about. We’re the human rights church. We want everybody in heaven with us.”

“This is what we’re all about,” said Rachel Lee, who at 26 is one of the youngest members of the choir. “We have different sizes, diferent ages, different colors, different beliefs and different backgrounds. This is what God wants us to look like; a family looking different.”

The fellowship and comradrie among the choirs was clearly evident after the competition when several members of the different choirs waited for the Metropolitan Community Church members to shower them with hugs and well wishes as they emerged from the room where their victory celebration was held.

“Everyone was so happy and friendly,” Smith said. “We love the interaction with all of the choirs. It was a great choir experience. I cannot think of a better one.”

For the second consecutive year, the Voices of Life from the Life Center International Church of God in Christ from St. Louis won the Small/

Medium Choir Category.

Voices of Life won the $10,000 prize for winning the award, plus they added another $5,000 for being voted the Verizon Video People’s Choice Award, which was voted on by the audience.

Under the direction of Isaac Hayes, the 12-member Voices of Life choir rocked the Scottrade Center with an incredible performance of Jesus Can Work it Out. It was reminiscnent of their showstopping performance of Holy Ghost Power, which won them the Small Choir competition last year.

During the evening, special recognition was given to gospel icon Andrae Crouch, who was the recipient of the Verizon Wireless Living Legend Award. Crouch gave a videotaped acceptance of his award and the stars performed many of Crouch’s top songs throughout the night.

Donald Lawrence, Marvin Sapp and Dorinda Clark-Cole opened the evening with a searing rendition of Crouch’s song Right Now, in which they were accompanied by the First Baptist Church of Chesterfield Inspirational Choir.

The six remaining choirs who competed on Monday night were the First Baptist Church of Chesterfield International Choir, Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir, Mount Gideon Baptist Church Concert Choir, Fresh Anointing Prosperity Ministry, Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church Choir from East St. Louis and the Voice of Melrose from the Melrose Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn. Each choir received a check for $3,000 for their participation in the competition.

St. Louis was the sixth stop on the nine-city How Sweet the Sound tour. The final stops of the tour will be Chicago, Los Angeles and Oakland before the final national competition in Los Angeles.

October 1

1841 - Fannie M. Richards is born. She becomes one of the nation’s early civil rights advocates as well as a prominent educator.

1868 – John Mercer Langston (1829-1897) organizes the nation’s irst black law school at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Largely forgotten today, Langston was a major Black political igure during his day. He was one of the nation’s irst African American lawyers, elected political oficials and he inluenced Black education throughout the country. The town of Langston, Oklahoma is named in his honor.

1872 – Morgan State College is founded in Maryland

1937 – The NAACP awards the prestigious Spingarn Medal to Walter White for his work against lynching. The light complexion White had “passed for white” to gather evidence against terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan.

October 2

1800 – Nat Turner is born on this day in South Hampton, Virginia. The spiritually inspired Turner would organize and carry out one of the deadliest slave revolts in American history. His rebellion led to the deaths of 57 whites including men, women and children.

1967 – Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the irst Black justice on the United States Supreme Court. President Lyndon Johnson had nominated him in part because of his distinguished career in the NAACP ighting to desegregate American institutions. Marshal had been the lead attorney in the historic Brown v Board of Education case which led to the desegregation of the nation’s schools.

October 3

1856 – Journalist and iery advocate for Black rights T. Thomas Fortune is born in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida. He was an orator, journalist and militant civil rights advocate. He attended school at Howard University in Washington, D.C. but later moved to New York City where he founded the New York Age newspaper. Fortune died in Philadelphia at the age of 71 in 1928.

1949 – One of the irst Black-owned radio stations in America begins broadcasting in Atlanta, Georgia. The principal organizing force behind WERD was businessman J.B. Blayton.

1995

80 percent of whites surveyed felt Simpson got away with murder.

October 4

1864 – What was to become the nation’s irst Black daily newspaper began publishing on this day in New Orleans, Louisiana. Amazingly, the New Orleans Tribune began distribution while slavery still existed. It was founded by Dr. Louis C. Reudanez. It began as a tri-weekly but soon became a daily published in both French and English.

1969 – Howard Lee and Charles Evers became the irst Black mayors of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Fayette, Mississippi, respectively. Evers was the brother of civil rights legend Medgar Evers who was murdered by Ku Klux Klan member Byron De La Beckwith on June 12, 1963.

1988 – The Martin Luther King, Jr. federal building is dedicated in Atlanta, Georgia. It thus became the irst federal building to bear the name of the slain civil rights leader.

October 5

1867 – The irst Black mayor of any American city takes ofice. His name was Monroe Baker. The prominent businessman was appointed mayor of St. Martin, Louisiana two years after the end of slavery.

– Former professional football great O.J. Simpson is found not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman. The trial had been a national sensation. The verdict angered a majority of whites. Polls showed that better than

Nat Turner

Continued from C1

The Metropolitan Community Church Choir won the Large Choir competition and the Overall Choir title as well.

Photo by Wiley Price

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Anniversaries:

D.J. Casual turns 45

T.

Joyce Jackson and Archie Hodge are known as “The Arch Couple” since they were engaged (12/24/10) and married (9/24/11) high atop the Gateway Arch. The Christian couple is special in another way too; they have proven that it’s never too late to find your soul mate. This is the first marriage for each at the seasoned ages of 49 and 54.

north1992.com

Reunions

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

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

McCluerNorth Class of 1992 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 20-year reunion. We are in the process of planning a dinner/dance. Your contact information is needed ASAP. Go to the web-site at mccluer-

Northwest Class of 1981 30th reunion, Oct. 7-9, 2011, Hilton St Louis Airport, 10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63134, 314-4265500, $75 per person/$140 for couples, $79 king/ $84 queen double, money order or cash only please.Payable to: Northwest Class of 81 Reunion. For information contact: Annette Irving at 314640-1193, Karen NealCinningham at 314-477-5435, Donna McRae at 314-3692748 or Sharon Scott at 314484-7067.

Soldan High School Class of 1962 is in the process of planning our 50th class reunion for the second weekend in August of 2012. We are calling all classmates to come and cele-

Rev. Dr. Henry T. and Marla P. Goodwin 39 years September 24, 2011

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.

brate this momentous occasion. Your contact information is urgently needed. Please call Bobbie Brooks at 314-8389207 or Hiram Wilkens at 314803-5580. You may email Sam Harris at harrissam@hotmail.com

Soldan High School Class of 1982 is preparing for its 30 year reunion in 2012.We are seeking contact information to complete our class directory. Please email information to Rahmina Stewart Benford and Bridgette West at soldanclassof82alumni@yahoo.com.

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

SumnerHigh School Class of 1987 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 25-year reunion. We are in the process of planning. Your contact information is needed

ASAP. Please emailyour information to:sumnerco1987@gmail.com

Vashon Home Coming Football Game Vashon vs. Sumner at Sumner High School, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at 1:30pm. We need all former football players, cheerleaders, band members, majorettes, spirit squad, pompon,all students, andall staff of Vashon High School to come out to support our football players. ForT-Shirts contact, Coach Reginald Ferguson 314-533-9487.

Vashon and O’Fallon Branch Graduates of 1966, 45th Class Reunion Dinner/Dance Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, 5:30 p.m. to midnight, Embassy Suites/Airport, 11237 Lone Eagle Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044.Meet and Greet, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, Cypress Village Apts Club House, 11324 Hi-Tower Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074, 7 p.m. – midnight, admission $5.

Baccalaureate Service, Sunday, October 2, 2011, Mercy Seat Baptist Church, 4424 Washington, St. Louis, MO 63108 beginning at 3:30. For more information contact: Marilyn at 314-438-8338, Betty at 314-524-3324 or email us at vashonclassof1966@yahoo.com

Reunion notices are free of charge

Deadline is 10 a.m. on

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

Vashon High School Class of 1966 is beginning preparation for its 45-year class reunion in October 2011. We have several activities planned leading up to the main event.We are seeking all classmates.For more information contact:Marilyn at 314-438-8338, Betty at 314524-3324 or e-mail us at vashonclassof1966@yahoo. com.

Robert and Monica Harris 11years September 23, 2011

‘The Arch Couple’ weds

William

Royston (aka D.J. Casual) celebrates his 45th birthday September 29! His secret to feeling GREATat 45 includes a regular workout regimen, drinking plenty of water and of course eating his wife Kim’s good cooking.

Religion

Christian Family Store hosts 80-year-old author

Olivia Longstreet publishes children’s book

Edgar’s Moon

By Aja La’Starr

For The St. Louis American

80-year-old author Ms. Olivia Longstreet is no stranger to adversities. In 1976, she endured a debilitating illness that forced her to retire as an administrative assistant for the Human Development Corporation. For the next 30 years of her life, with limited mobility, Longstreet allowed her faith in God to carry her to her destiny. Her will to live and persevere became the driving force behind her dedication to raising a healthy family and completely serving God. In grade school, Longstreet was extremely fond of writing. English being her favorite subject, she always enjoyed writing book reports about people she admired such as opera pioneer Marian Anderson. Her deep love for writing followed her throughout the course of her life. Despite her illnesses and limitations, writing allowed Longstreet to express herself and not give any power to the obstacles that aimed to destroy her.

Over the years, Longstreet wrote many articles and speeches for magazines and her church, and earlier this year she reached beyond the moon to publish her very first

book. With the help and support of family and friends, and despite suffering a stroke this year, she successfully published a children’s book entitled Edgar’s Moon “Edgar’s Moon was in the back of my mind for a while,” she remembers. “I started writing it down in ‘94 or ’95 because at the time I was incapacitated and had a lot to think and write about. I’m always reminiscing and thinking about different memories, and Edgar’s Moon was just a memory that crossed my mind that I decided to write about.”

Ms. Olivia Longstreet will celebrate the release of her book Edgar’s Moon on Saturday, October 1 at Christian Family Store, (10807 West Florissant). This event is free and open to the public.

and a spiritual perspective to enlighten her son about his unique explorations. Longstreet dedicates her book to all of the children who are curious about the solar system.

I AM Literacy, an ongoing campaign dedicated to promoting literacy in the community, is proud to announce that Ms. Olivia Longstreet will be celebrating the release of Edgar’s Moon on Saturday, October 1 at Christian Family Store (10807 West Florissant, St. Louis, MO 63136) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the book release, please contact Aja La’Starr at 314-680-1295 or Adrienne Draper at 314-2556202. For more information about the book, please visit www.xlibris.com or order@ xlibris.com or call 1-888-7954274. Edgar’s Moon is also available at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and in local bookstores.

Edgar’s Moon, derived from a conversation with her 8-year-old son, is a compelling story of a young boy who constantly wondered about the moon. The book explores questions like: “Does a man live on the moon?” and “Is the moon mine?” making the book easy to relate to and worth passing on. Adults can reflect back to being young and inquiring about what goes on beyond the sky, and children are able to experience a story that may feel all too familiar to their growing minds. In Edgar’s Moon Longstreet utilizes compassion,

When springtime comes, we are often excited that the winter is gone. Even though some of us enjoy building snowmen, making snow angels, drinking hot chocolate and eating hot baked chocolate cookies….Okay, I got a little carried away…(smile).

Normally, when spring arrives, we begin to clean out our closets, repaint walls, dust the mini blinds, clean the carpet and open the windows and doors. Just as we prepare our homes in the natural, we have to also let God clean our spiritual inner man.

Psalms 51:7, 9 & 10 reads, 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me

Mothers & Pastoral Care Revival

Solomons Temple Church will host a Mothers & Pastoral Care Revival 7 p.m. nightly October 5-7 at the church, located at 5569 Page Blvd. in St. Louis. The speaker will be Prophetess Wanda Turner. Bishop James E Holloway Sr. is Founder and Pastor, and 1st Lady Linda D. Holloway is Co-Pastor. Visit www.solomonstemplechurch. org or email solomons@i1.net.

It seems like our tongue is the smallest part of our body; however, it gets us into the most trouble. We must guard our tongues. James 3:6a reads, And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. James 1:19b reads, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath Yes, people do say things that are very upsetting to us, we retaliate and say very hurtful and unpleasant things back. A lot of times, we speak our minds and we end up lashing out and saying things we really don’t mean.

Of course, we can ask for forgiveness, but words we put out cannot be taken back. It takes God to remove that hurt. So, we have to be careful what we say to others. We know God does not like for us to respond in that manner. His word said in Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Romans 12:19b reads, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. There is a way to communicate with people to get your concern across and at the same time it’s not harmful to where it would destroy their spirit. Slander, gossip, anger burstouts, complaints and negativity are ways that we hurt people. God knows and He sees everything people do and say. God repays better than we can. Exodus 14:14 reads, 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. So, we have to let God

Angelita F. Jackson

Return of the dancing lip sync. When I headed to the Back to School Jam starring Tyga, Kelly Rowland, T-Pain, and Chris Brown, I expected a Hip-Hop/R&B screamer that would incite me to pop a hip out the socket. However, once the show began, I was quietly dismayed. Don’t get me wrong, the performers did their gig. But for some reason I thought I was gonna throw up my hands and gag rather than yawn and wonder when it was gonna be over. Tyga ran through his material like “Bedrock” and “Far Away.” Midway through his set, he decides to show off his baby chest and belly button. Although I wasn’t moved, the mostly teeny bopper crowd screamed their lungs into their lap. Once he was inished, I was quietly afraid that Ms. Rowland would show up lookin’ like the Wicked Witch of the West as she did on the BET awards. Luckily we were shown more than her throat this time as she came out in a bedazzled black kitty cat suit. Apparently she was feeling her Janet Jackson tease as she percolated, popped, and kick ball chained all over the stage through a Destiny’s Child medley and her hit “Motivation.” Ya girl thoroughly enjoyed her set as her muscle-bound background dancers were givin’ me everything I needed for a hot bubble bath later. Once her 16-inch yac left the stage, T-Pain showed himself, causing slow eye blinks in response. Like something off of a Golden Crisp cereal box, Pain shook his dreadlocks to his hits like “Buy You A Drink,” “Bartender,” and “Booty Work.” He would have done better with settin’ off bottle rockets rather than standin’ there and grimacin’ into the audience.

I couldn’t wait for Chris Brown, whose caramel frame can pop lock and drop for me anytime. But I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed by his set. On the heels of his hoistin’ galore performance at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month, I was expecting he was going to Superman on us all night. I should have known better. Out the gate, he was givin’ me a mean Gospel drop jaw as he lip synched for dear life. I didn’t mind as much as he danced for points. But as a ierce backing vocal track constantly reared its ugly head throughout the show, I threw my hands into the air in dismay. As many runs as this boy puts into one line of a song, I would have thought that he had enough vocal prowess to give a live show in his purest form. He can rip off his shirt and pelvic pop all night and it would not have made up for this misstep. I understand how one could get out of breath behind a fancy footwork, but most of the time when he was bulging his eyes and mouthing words to a song, he was just standing there.And the times where he was lailing himself every which way, he was at least attempting to sing live. I just wished he stuck with such throughout but hey, I guess performers of this day and age rely on such to get through. I wasn’t completely angry with Chris, because he does put on a show but I guess I’m angry because I know he is capable of better!

Show us some Facebook love. Partyline and yours truly are on Facebook! If you search Delores Shante and Partyline by the St. LouisAmerican, make sure you add and like both! Stay up to date with all events happening in the city and my personal take on such. Ain’t no excuse about you not knowing about happenings in St. Louis if you stay in the know! Look forward to connecting with ya’ll!

Takin’ It. I was taken back to the days of high top fades and inger wave freezes when I went to the Take 6 concert at Jazz at the Bistro Thursday night. As I sat at a table and ordered a big steak dinner, I was prepared to be wowed by the timeless harmonies that made me fall in love with these guys back when I was Cabbage Patchin’ all over the city limits. The guys piled onto the stage givin’ bubblegum smiles and outits that apparently had been freshly bought from Buckle. Doo-wops and inger snaps illed the night as they touched on their staples and those of others. The highlight of the night was their old school medley that included Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” “Do You Remember The Time,” and “Human Nature” as new member Khristian Dentley did an impeccable imitation with Moonwalk to boot. Vocal likenesses didn’t stop there as they harmonized on a Michael McDonald cut as Brian McKnight’s older brother Claude, did a great Earth, Wind, and Fire spin on “Can’t Hide Love.” Maurice White would have been proud. As the guys went through more selections and ended with a battle of mouthed instruments, the night will stay as the jazziest one I have had in a while. Dancin’ down the house. My favorite time of the year is here. Not because of Gateway Classic of Taste of St. Louis but because I know that the house party of all house parties goes down. What am I babblin’ about? The annual Kevin Johnson/Vincent Flewellen birthday bash at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s head pop music critic honcho’s house last Friday. When I entered his lovely home, there was so much gyratin’ and carryin’ on, I thought the foundation was going to collapse. Every notable face you can think of in the city was perched and in jubilant form for this event. DJ Nune spanned classic funk hits as a gaggle of party hoppers shook their shapes on cue. My favorite, James, returned this year and taught the masses how to really do it. With a few featured shimmies and 1-2 steps, he was deinitely the one to watch on the dance loor. With a plethora of food and drinks, I was in heaven. As I pranced around the place with a small party plate full of one of everything, I felt so lucky to be invited to this exclusive humdinger! Let’s just say I closed the place. Witnessing many that have sweated out of their shirts and hair extensions, this party remains one of featured events of the year! Happy birthday Kevin & Vincent!

Re-Re’s resurging reminder. Unless you were adoptin’ an Oscar the Grouch living-in-a-trashcan religion, you should know that the Peabody’s Grand Opening gala featuring Jay Leno’s mile long chin and Aretha Franklin’s exasperating silhouette will be goin’down Saturday. Make sure you get your bowties and long trained gowns ready because this event will be the talk of the town for months to come.

Sunday’s are made for soulfood. If you haven’t penned in your afterchurch plans…who am I kidding? If you have a moment this Sunday (Oct. 2), be sure to head to Harry’s Restaurant and Bar (2144 Market) for the Soul Food Sunday event that the folks are sayin’ will be all the rage. It includes an all-you-can-eat buffet and live entertainment. Y’all know they had me at “all-you-can-eat.” The party starts at noon.

John and Candice keep the Gateway Classic festivities going at the after party Saturday @ EXO

Deborah and Esther brought additional style to Fashion in the City Sunday @ The City Museum

Dujan and Elizabeth Harris soak in the urban chic vibe Saturday night @ Lola

Angie Brown, Kendall Brown and Helen Gill enjoy the Gateway Classic Lifetime Achievement Awards Gala Friday night @ The Hyatt

It was a fashionista family as sisters Meghan, Jeanie and Falon showcased their fierceness @ Fashion in the City Sunday @ City Museum

Megan Bell, Neasha Hayes, Brandon Jones, Jordann Plummer and Owner of St. Louis Surge Khalia Collier

Gateway Classic’s Vanessa Hughes, Richard Gray, Trina Claggett caught a cackle thanks to Matt Collins, Damon Williams, Dwayne Acoff and Pierre Edwards @ Gateway Classic Annual Comedy Show

Photo by Christopher Hawkins

Leslie, Joy and Birthday Girl Ashley did it big Saturday @ EXO

The gorgeous grins of Kevin, Vincent and Christiaan @ Kevin and Vincent’s annual birthday bash Friday night

Michael and Michelle Anderson revel in another Gateway Classic @ The Lifetime Achievement Award Friday @ The Hyatt

Jarrett Monroe and Darren Nesbitt sizzled with cutting edge swag Saturday night @ Lola

Super producer and singer Bradd Young kicked early for his b-day with Candice Saturday @ Lola

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Five scholarships awarded to Metro East youth

Special to The American

Recently, five metro east students were selected as the 2011 Kappa League Scholarship Award winners by the Belleville/FallonChapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Students were awarded tuition assistance and book stipends ranging from $1,000 to $250 as a result of their outstanding efforts.

The Kappa League Awardees were judged on six components deemed critical to a successful life – scholarship, talent, community involvement, poise and appearance, career preparation, and model chapter operation. Students participated in a year-long leadership program comprised of workshops and community engagement coordinated by the local chapter.

Competition winners include:

First Place Winner, Jeffry Epps, a spring Alton High graduate, attending Eastern Illinois University,majoring in Journalism received a $1,000 tuition assistance award.

Runner-up, Keith Sanders Jr., a spring Althoff High graduate, attending the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, majoring in Business Administration

Jeffry Epps, a spring Alton High graduate, is first place awardee

received a $250 book stipend.

Runner Up, Lafayette Canada II, a spring Belleville East High graduate, attending Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville majoring in Computer Science received a $250 book stipend.

Runner Up, Denzel Roberson, a spring Mascoutah High graduate, attending Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, majoring in Finance received a $250 book stipend.

Runner Up, Darion Stevenson, a spring Mascoutah High graduate, attending Parland Community College, majoring in Sports Management received a $250 book stipend.

“Our chapter strongly believes in supporting the outstanding youth of our community who serve as role models and great examples for others to follow,” said Frederick Jones, Guide Right Program Chair. “Providing opportunities for our youth to further their education and continue developing and refining their leadership skills is important not only to their individual success but to the success of our community as a whole.”

The Kappa League was founded in 1970 by the Los Angeles (CA) Alumni chapter

Members of the Belleville/O’FallonChapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,Inc.James Isaac,Kennard Tucker DeQuince Clay,1st place scholarship awardee Jeffry Epps,Frederick Jones,Fred Kimbrough,Reginald Golliday and Les Thomas.

of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The Kappa League is comprised of a series of activities designed to help young high school male students develop their leadership talents. The activities provide both challenging and rewarding experiences to enhance their lives.

The goal of the Kappa League is to help the students achieve worthy goals for themselves and to make meaningful contributions to their communities.

The Belleville/O’Fallon Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was chartered May 3, 2008. Middle and High School young men throughout the Metro East are encouraged to become a Kappa Leaguer. Contact Frederick Jones, 618567-5374 or jonesfredk@aol.com

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity’s founding on January 5, 1911 at

Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin. The fraternity has over 150,000 members with 721 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the United States, and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, Japan, the Caribbean, Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Belleville/O’Fallon Alumni Chapter website link: http://boanupes.com. Kappa Alpha Psi National Headquarters website link: http://www.kappaalphapsi1911.com/.

Online tool for job seekers

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis recenty unveiled a new online tool called My Next Move. The tool is aimed at providing jobseekers with information on more than 900 occupations, as well as local job openings and training opportunities in a simple, userfriendly format. Accessed at http://mynextmove.dol.gov,

My Next Move is intended to assist all jobseekers. It may be especially useful for students, young adults and other firsttime workers as they explore potential careers based on their interests. The new tool complements the department’s “mySkills myFuture” site at http://www.mySkillsmyFuture. org, which is designed to help those with previous work experience match their existing skills to new occupations. The new website allows users to search for jobs by occupation, by industry and using the “O*NETInterest Profiler,” which matches an individual’s interests with suitable occupations by asking 60 questions.Since 2001, the department’s Occupational Information Network, or O*NET, has used a 180-question version of the profiler that could be printed out or downloaded to a personal computer. The new, streamlined version is available online for the first time as part of My Next Move. Users can also search for jobs in three categories: careers with a “bright outlook” in growing industries, jobs that are part of the “green” economy and occupations that have a Registered Apprenticeship program.